Using layer styles

You can apply a variety of effects, either alone or in combination, by using the Layer Styles tabbed area of the Layer Properties dialog box. With this feature, you can create visually interesting and creative effects to a layer in real time, and you can fine-tune the effect before applying it. The Layer Styles feature provides six effects: Reflection, Outer Glow, Bevel, Emboss, Inner Glow, and Drop Shadow.

When you apply these effects on a separate layer and save the resulting file in a layer-capable file format (such as the PspImage format), your original image remains unedited on its own layer. In this sense, layer styles are similar to adjustment layers. They differ, however, in that layer styles are applied not to the underlying canvas, but just to the boundaries of the individual layer.

If you resize a layer with one or more layer styles applied to it, the effects are resized proportionally.

Layer styles can be applied only to raster and vector layers.

Some layer styles (such as Drop Shadow) are applied outside the layer’s data. Some layer styles won’t be seen unless the layer includes areas of transparency.

Why is there a "Layer" check box?

When marked, this check box lets you show the layer data with the effects applied. When unmarked, this check box lets you turn off the layer data and just show the effects. Unmarking the Layer check box makes the original layer data behave as if a mask were applied to it.

Is there a reason for the check box order?

Yes. The effects need to be composited in a particular order to obtain sensible results. For example, you would not want a Drop Shadow effect placed on top of its source object, nor would you want an Outer Glow effect placed under a Drop Shadow effect. Thus, the Reflection effect is placed on top, followed by the Outer Glow effect, the Bevel effect, and so on. The Drop Shadow effect is applied last.

What happens when I edit layers with effects?

Whether you edit a vector layer by adding new text or shapes, or edit a raster layer by painting with a brush tool, the effects previously applied to the layer are applied to any modifications you make.

Layers Styles examples

To apply a Reflection layer style

Edit workspace 

1	Click a layer, and click the Layer Styles button .

You can save Layer Styles settings as a preset and then apply them at any time to another layer. For more information on saving and applying presets, see Using and creating presets.

To apply an Outer Glow layer style

Edit workspace 

1	Click a layer, and click the Layer Styles button .

You can save Layer Styles settings as a preset and then apply them at any time to another layer. For more information on saving and applying presets, see Using and creating presets.

To apply a Bevel layer style

Edit workspace 

1	Click a layer, and click the Layer Styles button .

6	Drag the two-dimensional lighting control to set the direction and distance of the light applied to the effect.

You can save Layer Styles settings as a preset and then apply them at any time to another layer. For more information on saving and applying presets, see Using and creating presets.

To apply an Emboss layer style

Edit workspace 

1	Click a layer, and click the Layer Styles button .

6	Drag the two-dimensional lighting control to set the direction and distance of the light applied to the effect.

You can save Layer Styles settings as a preset and then apply them at any time to another layer. For more information on saving and applying presets, see Using and creating presets.

To apply an Inner Glow layer style

Edit workspace 

1	Click a layer, and click the Layer Styles button .

You can save Layer Styles settings as a preset and then apply them at any time to another layer. For more information on saving and applying presets, see Using and creating presets.

To apply a Drop Shadow layer style

Edit workspace 

1	Click a layer, and click the Layer Styles button .

6	Drag the two-dimensional lighting control to set the direction and distance of the light applied to the effect.

You can save Layer Styles settings as a preset and then apply them at any time to another layer. For more information on saving and applying presets, see Using and creating presets.

To adjust the layer data visibility

Edit workspace 

1	Click a layer that has effects applied, and click the Layer Styles button .

To display or hide layer effects

Edit workspace 

2	Click the Layer Effects Visibility Toggle button to display or hide the effects.

A layer effect icon displays on the layer when the effect is visible. The icon disappears when the effect is hidden.

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