Photoshop Feature #2: The Layers Palette

Photoshop Feature #2: The Layers Palette

Author: lynda.com April 6, 2010 Duration: 19:12
Home to at least eight of the features Deke has mentioned so far in the Photoshop Top 40 Countdown, the Layers palette is command central—the place where most of the action in Photoshop happens. Were it not for this one palette, Photoshop as we know it would not exist.

Ever opened Photoshop and felt a bit lost in the sheer volume of panels and menus? You're not alone. That's where Photoshop Top 40 with Deke McClelland comes in. Instead of another sprawling tutorial series, imaging expert Deke McClelland distills the entire application down to its absolute essentials. This podcast isn't about every single button; it's a curated list of the forty most powerful features, from crucial tools and hidden commands to foundational concepts that change how you approach an image. Master these, and you truly grasp the program's core. Each episode focuses on one of these key elements, breaking it down with clear explanations. You'll hear why Deke, an award-winning author, considers each feature indispensable, often with practical examples of how it fits into a real-world workflow. The goal is efficiency and understanding, moving you from following steps to knowing why you're taking them. Originally from lynda.com, this series also includes a special look at the top new features from Photoshop CS5, serving as a great snapshot of the software's evolution. It's a focused, authoritative tour of what really matters in Photoshop.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 46

Photoshop Top 40 with Deke McClelland
Podcast Episodes
Photoshop Feature #37: Fill Functions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:13
Many of Photoshop's best features can only be accessed from the keyboard. Like, how would you know Alt+Backspace (or Option-Delete) fills with black? Watch. It gets better.
Photoshop Feature #38: Vector Type [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:49
Type in Photoshop is forever editable and super-smooth. Deke shows how it works by assembling a high-res, pro-quality magazine cover in one short video.
Photoshop Feature #39: Layer Comps [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:03
Layer comps let you assemble multiple image variations or even independent pieces of artwork inside a single Adobe Photoshop file. The Layer Comps palette gives you the freedom to explore.
Photoshop Feature #40: Reset and Purge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:17
Deke gets things started with a pair of options that can clean out Photoshops plumbing when things get clogged up: Reset and purge.
Introduction [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:56
America likes its lists, and here's another one. Imaging expert and award-winning author Deke McClelland presents his list of the top 40 features in Photoshop—beginning with #40 and working his way up to #1—one weekly vi…