If I mess it up in some way, it’s not a problem: I just delete the layer. This means that every time I want to add a large feature of some sort I make a new layer. In the long term I like to keep my layer stack short, but in the short term I make a new layer whenever I want to take a risk. This general concept is at the heart of my layer strategy. If you make a mistake it’s not a problem because you have the most recent save to fall back on. When working with written documents, do you ever find yourself saving every time you’re pleased with the state of the paper? You probably do this because it protects you against a potential future mistake. My personal layer strategy – a.k.a ‘temp layers’
Each artist must find a comfortable balance between flexibility and reasonable file sizes. Additionally, a tall layer stack makes for a long scrollbar on the layers palette – leading to much wasted time in navigation. The drawback, however, is that each added layer increases the file-size and amount of RAM used to manipulate the file. They allow you to separate your elements from one another. “Multiply” Layers are used for glazing with transparent paint – like watercolors or thin oils The downside of a tall layer stack “Normal” layers are used for opaque painting, as in thick acrylics, gauche, or thick oils. Most of the time I use two types of layers: Normal, and Multiply. All of the other modes modify the way that the layer mixes with those below it in the stack. The pulldown at the top of the layer stack describes the ‘blending mode’, which defaults to ‘Normal’. So far the properties of layers have been pretty straightforward – but this gets a bit more complicated. You’ll know they’re a part of the group once they’re indented on the layer stack. Once You’ve created it, drag other layers onto it’s title to add them to the group. To create a layer group, click the new group button on the layers palette. Additionally, they can be moved and transformed as a group. Like folders on your computer, they can be expanded or collapsed in the layer palette. A group is primarily an organizational tool. These can be thought of as a “bundle” of layers. To change this order, simply grab the title of the layer you want to move, and drag it it higher or lower in the stack. You can think of it as a stack of transparent sheets of plastic – those on the top of the stack will block the contents directly underneath. The order in which the layers exist in your layers palette matters.