ABSTRACT
This chapter explains the different tools and techniques that can be used for creating composite photographs as well as the intricacies of working with layers, channels, mask channels, and pen paths. It focuses on some of the basic principles such as how to make a selection and the interrelationship between selections, alpha channels, and the Quick Mask mode. Layers play an essential role in all aspects of Photoshop work. Layers give the opportunity to assemble an image made up of separate, discrete components and have the flexibility to make any edit changes you want at a later stage. The most common type of layer is a pixel image layer. Vector layers is a catch-all term used to describe layers where the layer is filled with a solid fill or pattern and the outline defined using a vector layer mask. Type fonts are defined using vector data, which means that Text layers are also essentially vector-based shape layers.
