How to Glue Layers Together

Adobe Photoshop or Elements Tip from Designer Digitals:

A Sticky Situation, How to Glue Layers Together

You can also watch this tip on video on their blog: Digital Scrapbooking Tips and Tricks: How to Digitally Glue Layers Together [Video]

When I scrapbook with paper and adhesive, I have two choices: Removable or Permanent tape. In Photoshop and PSE, I have the same two choices.

Linking layers is the digital equivalent of repositionable glue. To link two or more layers, hold the Ctrl (Mac: Cmd) key and click on the layers you want to link. Release the Ctrl (Cmd) key and click the chain link icon above (PSE) or below (PS) the Layers Palette. Now the layers will stick together like glue and can be resized or repositioned together. To unlink the layers, simply select the layers you want to unlink and press the chain link icon again.

Merging Layers is the digital equivalent of Super Glue. Once you merge layers, you can't undo it without going back a step or more in the History Palette. If you've completed a number of steps, this can cost you precious time, so make sure that you really want the layers together as one before you merge. To Super Glue two layers together, stack the layers one on top of the other and highlight the upper layer. Press Ctrl + E (Mac: Cmd + E) on your keyboard. This glues the two layers together.

To Super glue several layers together, hold the Ctrl (Mac: Cmd) key to select all of the layers you are merging and press Ctrl + E (Mac: Cmd + E).

How to hide the highlight on selected type in Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop Tip from Designer Digitals:

How to hide the highlight on selected type in Photoshop

You can also watch this tip on video on their blog: Digital Scrapbooking Tips and Tricks: Hiding the Highlight on selected type in Photoshop [Video]

When you are working with text in Photoshop, getting the text tool and highlighting the text allows you to do a number of things like change the color, size, or even the font. But the highlight on the text is like a halloween mask. It makes it difficult to see what the text looks like underneath.

Pressing Ctrl + H (Mac: Cmd + H) on your keyboard allows you to hide the highlight on the text, so you can clearly see what the effect will look like on your project as you apply it.

To see your text in a different font, first highlight your text, then highlight the font name in the Options Bar and press the arrow keys on your keyboard. If you take the extra step to hide the highlight on the text, you can clearly see how your text will appear on your project.