Layer thumbnail size can be adjusted through panel options – can be accessed by clicking on the menu (3 lines) and clicking panel options.
Locked layers cannot be edited, moved, or adjusted – background layers are locked by default.
Selected layers have a white box around them.
Layer blending modes can be accessed by clicking on a box that says normal – this changes the way the selected layer interacts with the layer beneath it.
You can lock/unlock different modes of the layer – this restricts you from editing certain elements, but it doesn’t restrict you from editing the entire layer.
To create a new layer, you click the black box with a white flap – this displays a blank layer.
You can merge layers – accessed through the menu.
To restrict a layer from being merged you can hide it by clicking the eye icon next to it.
Introduction to layers and layer masks in Photoshop)
Layering is nondestructive – Every layer can be edited and adjusted from the original.
The menu is located at the very bottom – half black/half white circle.
The stacking/orders of the layers effects how the adjustments are displayed.
Layer masks can be used to make adjustments to the layer edits.
Using the brush tool in layer masks you can remove parts of the edits from the layer that you don’t like — can only affect the layer you are masking.