The top-bar Layer menu holds every advanced layer operation. This lesson walks through it line by line.
2026 note: This lesson was recorded on Photoshop CS6 in 2014. Adobe no longer sells the CS line — Photoshop now ships via Creative Cloud subscription. About 95% of the menus and shortcuts shown in the video still match the modern version; only the iconography is a bit fresher.
Most-Used Sections
- New → Layer, Layer from Background, Group.
- Duplicate Layer — can send to another open document too.
- Smart Objects → Convert to Smart Object for non-destructive editing.
- Layer Mask → Reveal All / Hide All / From Selection — mask instead of erase.
- Layer Style → Drop Shadow, Stroke, Glow, Bevel.
- Align / Distribute — line up several layers cleanly.
- Merge / Flatten — final-step compositing.
2026 Add-on — Adjustment Layers
Whenever you’d reach for Image > Adjustments, use Layer > New Adjustment Layer instead. Curves, Hue/Saturation, Color Balance all land on a maskable, deletable layer.
