2 In the options bar, select Use All Layers.

Note: When you are using tools that sample image data, painting or editing in a new layer where there are no pixels produces the best results when Use All Layers is selected.

Managing layers

After you add layers to an image, you can use the Layers palette to manage them.

Renaming layers

As you add layers to an image, it’s helpful to rename layers based on their content. Using descriptive layer names allows you to easily identify layers in the Layers palette.

To rename a layer or layer set:

1 Do one of the following:

•Double-click the layer or layer set’s name in the Layers palette, and enter a new name.

•Press Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS), and double-click the layer or layer set’s name in the Layers palette. Enter a new name in the Name text box, and click OK.

•(Photoshop) Select a layer or layer set, and choose Layer Properties or Layer Set Properties from the Layers menu or the Layers palette menu. Enter a new name in the Name text box, and click OK.

•(ImageReady) Select a layer or layer set, and choose Layer Options or Layer Set Options from the Layers menu or the Layers palette menu. Enter a new name in the Name text box, and click OK.

•(ImageReady) Select a layer or layer set, and choose Window > Layer Options/Style. Enter a new name in the Name text box.

Color coding layers

Color coding layers and layer sets makes it easier to locate related layers in the Layers palette.

To assign a color to a layer or layer set:

1 Do one of the following:

•Press Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS), and double-click the layer or layer set’s name in the Layers palette.

•(Photoshop) Select a layer or layer set, and choose Layer Properties or Layer Set Properties from the Layers menu or the Layers palette menu.

•(ImageReady) Select a layer or layer set, and choose Layer Options or Layer Set Options from the Layers menu or the Layers palette menu.

2 Choose a color from the Color pop-up menu, and click OK.

Rasterizing layers

You cannot use the painting tools or filters on layers that contain vector data (such as type layers, shape layers, and vector masks) and generated data (such as fill layers). However, you can rasterize these layers to convert their contents into a flat, raster image.

To rasterize a single layer:

1Select the layer you want to rasterize.

2Choose Layer > Rasterize, and choose an option from the submenu.

To rasterize multiple layers:

Do one of the following:

•Link the layers you want to rasterize, and choose Layer > Rasterize > Linked Layers. (See “Linking layers” on page 289.)

•To rasterize all layers that contain vector and generated data, choose Layer > Rasterize > All Layers.

Deleting layers

Deleting layers that you no longer need reduces the size of your image file.

To delete a layer or layer set:

1Select a layer or layer set in the Layers palette.

2Do one of the following:

•To delete the layer or layer set without confirmation, drag it to the Trash button or Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Mac OS) the Trash button.

•To delete the layer or layer set with confirmation, click the Trash button. Alternately, choose Delete Layer or Delete Layer Set from the Layers menu or the Layers palette menu.

To delete linked layers (Photoshop):

Do one of the following:

•To delete the linked layers with confirmation, choose Delete Linked Layers from the Layers menu or the Layers palette menu. Alternately, Ctrl-click (Windows) or Commandclick (Mac OS) the Trash button.

•To delete the linked layers without confirmation, Ctrl-Alt-click (Windows) or Command- Option-click (Mac OS) the Trash button.

To delete hidden layers (Photoshop):

Choose Delete Hidden Layers from the Layers menu or the Layers palette menu.

Merging layers

When you have finalized the content of layers, you can merge them to create partial versions of your composite image. The intersection of all transparent areas in the merged layers remains transparent. Merging layers helps manage the size of image files.

Note: You cannot use an adjustment layer or fill layer as the target layer for a merge. (See “Merging adjustment layers or fill layers” on page 314.)

In addition to merging layers, you can stamp layers. Stamping allows you to merge the contents of more than one layer into a target layer while leaving the other layers intact. Typically, the selected layer will stamp down to the layer below it.

To merge two layers or layer sets:

1Position the layers or layer sets you want to merge next to each other in the Layers palette, and make sure that the visibility for both items is enabled.

2Select the top item in the pair.

3Do one of the following:

•If the top item is a layer, choose Merge Down from the Layers menu or the Layers palette menu.

•If the top item is a layer set, choose Merge Layer Set from the Layers menu or the Layers palette menu.

To merge a clipping group:

1Hide any layers you do not want to merge.

2Select the base layer in the group.

3Choose Merge Group from the Layers menu or the Layers palette menu.

To merge all visible linked layers:

Choose Merge Linked from the Layers palette or the Layers palette menu.

To merge all the visible layers and layer sets in an image:

Choose Merge Visible from the Layers palette or the Layers palette menu.

To create a new layer from all visible layers, while keeping the original layers intact:

Hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS), and choose Layer > Merge Visible.

To stamp layers:

1Position the layer you want to stamp to above the layer you want to stamp from, and make sure that the visibility for both items is enabled.

2Select the top item in the pair.

3Press Ctrl+Alt+E (Windows) or Command+Option+E (Mac OS).

The selected layer is stamped with the contents of the other layer.

To stamp linked layers:

Select one of the linked layers, and press Ctrl+Alt+E (Windows) or Command+Option+E (Mac OS). The selected layer is stamped with the contents from the other linked layers.

To stamp all visible layers:

Select the layer or layer set that you want to contain the new contents, and press Shift+Ctrl+Alt+E (Windows) or Shift+Command+Option+E (Mac OS).