Layer from selection

Another way to create a new layer, is by copying a selection from a different layer to a new layer.

As an example I used an image with three layers.

A background layer, a transparent layer containing the image of an arm and a third layer with the picture frame.

As you can notice the layer of the frame is located above the layer containing the arm.

By placing a part of the arm, in particular the hand, above the layer of the frame, we create the illusion that the arm is inserted through the frame.

Select a selection tool in the tool bar.

For this example, the “Lasso” tool is excellent (1).

Make a selection around the hand (2).

If you remember from previous lessons, a selection is not tied to a layer, so you should select the layer you wish to copy from.

In this case, the layer of the “arm” (3) in the “Layers” panel.

Then click the “Layer” button in the menu bar, choose “New” from the drop-down menu and click the “Layer via copy”. The hotkey for this is also Ctrl + J on your keyboard.

This places the new layer containing the copied hand above the layer “Arm”.

Click and drag this new layer above the “Frame” layer (1) and you’ve just created your first illusion.

This was easy because each layer in the above example is transparent.  It becomes more difficult, or rather time-consuming, if this is not the case. But yes, I’ve already told you everything about how you can select something, so a little practice and it will be a piece of cake for you.

Organize Layers

Unless you have a text layer, or you copy a layer from another image, you give each layer a name. Why and how, I did tell you.
But why not in those two cases?  Because when you have a text layer, the layer gets the name of the text you type and when a layer is created by copying from another image, it gets the same name as the original image.

But to organize all these layers a bit, we put them in groups.

Just click the button “New Group” at the bottom of the “Layers” pane (1).

This places the new group above the selected layer.

To place a layer in its group, drag it to the group.

To change the name of the group, double-click it.

If you want to remove a layer from a group, click and drag it to where you want it.

Make sure when you place a group over a non-clustered layers, all the layers in this group are placed over the non-grouped layers.

To expand a group, click the arrow next to the folder icon of the group (2).

If you wish to add a new layer in an existing group, first unfold this group, select the group and you click the “Create a New Layer” button.

This will automatically create the new layer in the group.

Another way to create a group, is to first select all the layers that should be in this group. Then click the downward pointing arrow in the upper right of the title bar of the “layers” panel.
And select “New group of layers.”

When working with groups, you can move and/or edit all the layers in this group by selecting the group in the “Layers” panel.

For example, select the group part in the “Layers”, select the “Move” tool in the tool bar and click and drag in the photo. Release the mouse button when you reached the correct position for the layers.

Another example. Select the group, click “Edit” in the menu bar, choose “Transform” in the drop-down menu and click the “Scale”. You will see that the framework of the various transformation handles are placed around all the layers in this group.

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