Sponsored by the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. Learn More

Get Back Your Background Layer

 

Lost your Background layer? It happens. It’s heartbreaking, but it happens. If you suddenly find yourself staring at a Layers palette and there’s no Background layer (chances are you accidentally converted your Background layer into a regular layer), here’s how to get a Background layer again: Click on the Create a New Layer icon, then go under the Layer menu, under New, and choose Background From Layer, and Photoshop will take your new blank layer and create a solid white Background layer at the bottom of your layer stack.

2 Comments

  1. Samuel said on — September 1, 2008 @ 4:03 pm

    It can be usefull also when you create a transparent document instead of a white background document !

  2. Herb LeRoy said on — August 6, 2011 @ 2:34 am

    I have just purchased PS CS5 (Mac) – downloaded and installed (several times). When I open up the program, I get all the essential panels but no background. The panels are floating over the desktop. When I open an image or ‘new’ file, I will then get the usual grey background but have to stretch it to fill the screen.

    Am I missing something here? Should I not always have the grey background by default when the program loads?

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI

Leave a comment

Photoshop Tutorials

  • The Bourne Effect

    Corey shows you how to re-create the graphic effect from the new Bourne Legacy movie poster. With an extra twist!

  • Flare Effects

    Corey has a cool trick for creating a flare brush and see how one effect can lead to another.

  • Hollywood Touch-Ups

    See how you can add some subtle touches to give that green screen studio shot the Hollywood treatment.

  • 3D Christmas Ornaments

    Corey shows how to create reflective holiday ornaments using 3D in Photoshop.

Premium Video Tutorials From NAPP


 

Create A Composite Layer

If you have a multilayer composition and you
want to apply an effect to all the layers at once, don’t flatten the layers–use a composite layer instead. Hide the layers you want excluded, and press Shift-Command-Option-E (PC: Shift-Ctrl-Alt-E). A new layer will be created at the top containing a merged copy of all the visible layers.

Another option is to create a new layer at the top of the stack and make it active. Command-click (PC: Ctrl-click) each layer you want to include to make those layers active, as well. Press Option-Command-E (PC: Alt-Ctrl-E).
by Colin Smith

Read More Tips

Tip of the Day
 
 
Kelby Training
 
DVD Special
Online Training
Kelby Training