Photoshop CS Timesaving Techniques For Dummies [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

Technique 16: Getting to Know Layer Comps

Save Time By

Creating layer comps

Sifting through layer comps

Updating layer comps

When working for clients, I often create several versions of a layout or image to show them. The clients can then choose the version that they like best. In the past, this meant saving sev-eral separate image files in Photoshop, one for each version. But, with Photoshop cs and layer comps, all this has changed.

Layer comps are used to create virtual snapshots of every Layer palette setting including position, stacking order, opacity, blending mode, and applied layer styles. And unlike history snapshots, which are deleted when an image is closed, layer comps are saved with the image and are available every time the image is reopened. So instead of showing my clients several image files, I can open just one image file and cycle through the layer comps. Figure 16-1 shows the same image file viewed with two different layer comps. Notice that the type layer’s appearance and position changes depending on which layer comp is selected.

Figure 16-1: The same image is viewed with two different layer comps.

This technique shows you everything you need to know about layer comps: creating and updating them, cycling through layer comps, deleting them, you name it. Give layer comps a try and experiment with them. I think you’ll find that they can be a useful tool for client presentations and everyday work. If you want to try out a blending mode, different layer position, or layer effect, use layer comps to save the original and the tester, and then cycle back and forth between the two to see which you like best.