Adobe 29180155 - Photoshop Elements 4.0, Tutorial

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Layer styles
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About layer styles
Work with layer styles
About layer styles
Layer styles let you quickly apply effects to an entire layer. In the Effects panel, you can view a variety of predefined layer styles and apply a style
with just a click of the mouse.
Three different layer styles applied to text
The boundaries of the effect are automatically updated when you edit that layer. For example, if you apply a drop shadow style to a text layer, the
shadow changes automatically when you edit the text.
Layer styles are cumulative, which means that you can create a complex effect by applying multiple styles to a layer. You can apply one style from
each style library per layer. You can also change a layer’s style settings to adjust the final result.
When you apply a style to a layer, a style icon appears to the right of the layer’s name in the Layers panel. Layer styles are linked to the layer
contents. When you move or edit the contents of the layer, the effects are modified correspondingly.
Once you choose Layer > Layer Style > Style Settings, you can edit the settings of a layer’s style or apply other style settings or attributes
available in the dialog box.
Lighting Angle Specifies the lighting angle at which the effect is applied to the layer.
Drop Shadow Specifies the distance of a drop shadow from the layer’s content. You can also set the size and opacity with the sliders.
Glow (Outer) Specifies the size of a glow that emanates from the outside edges of the layer’s content. You can also set the opacity with the slider.
Glow (Inner) Specifies the size of a glow that emanates from the inside edges of the layer’s content. You can also set the opacity with the slider.
Bevel Size Specifies the size of beveling along the inside edges of the layer’s content.
Bevel Direction Specifies the direction of the bevel, either up or down.
Stroke Size Specifies the size of the stroke.
Stroke Opacity Specifies the opacity of the stroke.
Work with layer styles
You can apply special effects to a layer, hide or show the styles in a layer, and even change the scale of a layer style (for example, decrease or
increase the size of a glow effect). It’s easy to copy a style from one layer to another.
Apply a layer style
1. Select a layer in the Layers panel.
2. In the Effects panel, choose Layer Styles from the category menu.
3. Do any of the following:
Select a style, and click Apply.