Layer copy

If you want to copy a layer into another image, select the layer, click the shortcut Ctrl + C on your keyboard, select the other image, and click the shortcut Ctrl + V.
This is the “normal” way of copying and pasting, and this places the layer in the middle of the image.
If you want to maintain the position of the layer in the second picture, do the following:
click and drag the layer you wish to copy in the second image with the Shift key pressed. Release the mouse button and then release the Shift key.

The only requirement for this, of course, is that the two images should have the same dimensions.

If you want to copy multiple layers from another image, you just do the same, just select and drag over multiple layers in the new image.

Align Layers

To align various layers, first select the layers in the “Layers” panel and select the “move” tool in the tool bar and then click the desired alignment button in the options bar.

The same buttons, at least the first six, are also found under the “Layer” in the menu bar, select “Align”.

We will use the next six buttons when we want to distribute the layers evenly over the image.
A tip perhaps.
When you have several layers, for example to horizontally distribute evenly across the image, place the first layer you want to the far left, then insert the layer you want to the far right. Then select all the layers you want to align, and click the button “Distribute Horizontal Centers”.

If you prefer to align the layers manually, you can use the “Smart Guides” option.

What this does is, it places the guides as you drag, which rely on the position of the contents of other layers.

In this way, you will know if the content of a layer is perfectly aligned with the contents of another layer.

The “Smart Guides” is not enabled by default.

To turn it on, click the “View” button in the menu bar, choose “Show” in the drop-down menu and click the “Smart Guides” option.

Transparency

Each layer you create in Photoshop is always provided with a transparent background and is typically displayed in a grid of white and gray cubes. If you, for some reason, prefer to see other colors, you can change it.
Click on the “Edit” button in the menu bar, choose “Preferences” from the drop-down menu and click the “Transparency & Gamut.”

This opens the dialog “Preferences” tab, where the “Transparency & Gamut” is selected.

All the options in this dialog seem so obvious to me that I think this needs no further explanation. But, I want you to know that you can still set the colors and the grid size of these to have transparent background. If you click the OK button, then the grid in the open image adjusts immediately. The grid in the thumbnails of “Layers” pane will only adjust when you save the image first, close the image and then open the image again.

If you have a transparent layer with content, you can select the content in a fairly simple way.
Just click the thumbnail of the layer in the “Layers” while the Ctrl key on your keyboard pressed. This will automatically select all the contents of the layer (1).

If you wish to lock the transparency of a layer so that you do not change it inadvertently, select the layer and click the “Lock transparent pixels” (2) button at the top of “Layers” panel.

Please note, that it only protects the transparent part of the layer, not the contents.

If you want to remove the lock, click again on the “Lock transparent pixels” button.

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