I have created this thread so I can share what knowledge I have about design and art. And as my skill increases, I will update and add more into the mix. So, to kick it off, let's have a look at layers and groups etc.

You already know that you can add layers to groups and then you can use the groups to move the layers around that are held inside the group, so then you wouldn't have to move each layer individually.

Another great thing about layers is that you can add layer masks to layers, right? One of the things about layers that I forget about a lot of the time is that if you merge layers, and one of the layers has a mask or styles, nine times out of ten, the new merged layer will take on any mask or styles added to layers before the merge.

I have two tricks to make sure that doesn't happen and you are left with clean layers that you can then merge easily.

When you're working with layer masks, sometimes you can apply the layer mask to the layer, which leaves you with a normal layer afterwards. If you cannot apply the layer mask, then you can create a clean layer below the layer with styles and masks, and then merge the layers together. Photoshop then merges the layers (when you press Control and E) down and the new layer takes on the styles and masks of the last layer ( If there are any). Which then leaves you with a normal layer.

You can also merge more than two layers at a time. Click on the first layer you want to merge, hold shift and then click on the last layer you want to merge and press control and E. Photoshop will then merge these layers for you.

_________________
Crouching tiger, hidden moderator.

Aside from that I would share that a group containing the background elements and maybe a group containing foreground elements. The benefit of this is that I can move or hide all the layers in a group in one go, as opposed to selecting them over and again as shown in the methods above. For the organisational value alone, it is worth using groups, but the bonus of being able to hide multiple layers instantly makes it an invaluable feature.

in the end i would like to add about Linking.
Linking on Layers are also a main part in your design work to work easily with layers, When you link layers together, they can do three things simultaneously.

1) Linked layers can be moved as a group up-and-down the layers stack.

Click one of the linked layers, hold, and drag.

2) You can reposition the contents of linked layers simultaneously with the Move tool.

For example, let's say you're doing a collage.

You have seven clouds, each on its own layer.

You want to move all seven clouds at the same time.

Link the seven cloud layers, and then move the clouds in unison with the Move tool.

3) You can use the rotate and the various transform commands simultaneously on the contents of linked layers.

What you think?

Definitely. Linking is a good way to get things done quickly. You can also hold control and click on many layers, and be able to move layers that way using the move tool, I am just not sure if you can actually use transform tools on the multiple layers when you've selected them using control. You can do a mass delete that way as well. Hold control, click the layers you want to get rid of and either press delete, click on the trashcan, or drag the layers to the trashcan.

_________________
Crouching tiger, hidden moderator.

Two new tricks I learnt yesterday in fact can help you save a little time

When you design, you use a lot of layers, and to keep it all neat and tidy, you would put it all into groups right? heres an easy way to create a group. Hold shift, and click on the layers you want to add to a group, and while holding shift, click on the group (the folder) icon at the bottom of your layers tab. Photoshop will take these layers and automatically add them to a new group, that you can now rename.

Another nifty idea, when you need to duplicate groups, is that instead of dragging the group all the way to the bottom of your layer tab, you can just highlight the group and press alt and the up arrow. It immediately duplicates the group for you.

I tested this on CS5, so I am not sure it works on other versions. Let me know if you try it out? maybe it can help others with later versions on Photoshop.

_________________
Crouching tiger, hidden moderator.