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USING PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS 8
Using layers
Last updated 7/26/2011
Change the stacking order of layers
The stacking order determines whether a layer appears in front of or behind other layers.
By default, the Background layer must remain at the bottom of the stack. To move the Background layer, you need to
convert it into a regular layer first.
Dragging a layer below another layer changes the stacking order
1 In the Layers panel, select one or more layers. To select more than one layer, hold down the Command key and
click each layer.
2 To change the stacking order, do one of the following:
• Drag the layer or layers up or down the Layers panel to the new position.
• Choose Layer > Arrange, and then choose Bring To Front, Bring Forward, Send Backward, or Send To Back.
More Help topics
“Understanding layers” on page 49
“Convert the Background layer into a regular layer” on page 52
Link and unlink layers
When layers are linked, you can move their contents together. You can also copy, paste, merge, and apply
transformations to all linked layers simultaneously. At some point, you may want to edit or move one linked layer. You
can simply unlink the layers to work on one layer at a time
1 Select the layers you’d like to link in the Layers panel. To select more than one layer, hold down the Command key
and click each layer.
2 Click the Link Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers panel. The linked icon appears in the linked layers.
3 To unlink layers, select a linked layer in the Layers panel and click the Link Layers icon at the bottom of the Layers
panel.
