You modify layers from within the Layers palette. You can change the
layer blend mode, vary opacity, change the order in which layers are stacked,
and so on. When you work with layers, the top layer eclipses all layers beneath
it. You can change the way the image looks by choosing a different blend mode
for a layer. The blend mode determines how Photoshop Elements blends the
pixels from the underlying layer with the pixels on the layer to which the blend
mode is applied. You can also change the look of the top layer by varying layer
opacity, which lets some of the underlying layer show through. Figure 8-1
shows the Layers palette of an image with several layers. For the purpose of this
illustration, the Layers palette has been undocked from the Palette Bin.
Duplicate a Layer
When you apply menu commands or filters to an image, you destroy pixels. If
you go too far, the image may be unusable and you??™ll have done a lot of work
for nothing. However, if you duplicate the background layer and do all your
work there, you still have the background layer as a fail-safe. Duplicating layers
is also useful when you need to repair an underexposed or overexposed image.
1. Select the background layer in the Layers palette.
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