Layers and the Layer Stack

New Layer  //    Ctrl+Shift+Alt+N
New Layer with dialogue  //    Ctrl+Shift+N
Add an image  //    Drag file from windows explorer window
Change layer order  //    Drag the layer up and down the layer stack
Hide a layer  //    Press the eye icon
Move a layer  //    Click V then drag with cursor
Delete a layer  //    Drag the layer to the bin icon, or, making sure
you have nothing selected, click the layer name and hit delete
Layer Opacity  //    Drag over the ‘opacity’ text, or type in numerically.

Layers – Copy layers

Copy layer in the workspace // Click the layer to make the layer active.
Use the move tool, (V) hold Alt and drag
Copy layer in the layer stack  //    Select a layer, Hold Alt and drag the layer up or down to copy. Alternatively drag the layer to the New layer icon.
Copy all layers and paste a collapsed layer //
Ctrl a to select all pixels, Ctrl + shift + C to copy all layers, Ctrl + v to paste collapsed layers to a new layer
Export layer as .PNG  //    Right click layer, quick export as .PNG

Layers – Copy layers between files

Move layer to different file // Select move tool, drag the layer over. Hold shift to center the layer in the new file
Duplicate layer  //    Select layer in the stack. Right click in the name area of the layer. Duplicate layer. Choose the destination document. This works for groups, but not multiple layers.
Drag to tab //    Move tool, drag the layer to the tab of the destination file. hold for a second, then drag into the file.

Layers: Selecting – Grouping

Select layer in the layer stack // Left click the text area of the layer in the layer stack.
Hold shift and select more adjacent layers
Hold control and left click layers that are not adjacent
Select a layer in your image //    With move tool active, Right click over the layer and a list is revealed
Collapse selected layers  //    Ctrl+E
Create group from layer selection  //    Ctrl+G
Adjustment layer only affects layers in group //    Change the blending mode from pass through to another blending mode. Add your adjustment layer

Layer Blending Modes

Blending modes affect the way a layer appears when above another layer. The names suggest how they work. The most commonly used are:
Normal  //    default.

Multiply  //    Emphasises dark areas. Overlay plans, Ambient Occlusion, Shadows, Vignette

Layer Blending Modes

Screen  //    Emphasises Light areas. Overlay Passes: Reflection, Lighting, Self illumination
Colour dodge  //    Good for overlaying highlights: Specular pass
Linear Dodge  //    Strong brightening, such as flares.
Overlay  //    Good for overlaying textures, or colours. Grass texture
Soft Light  //    Good for overlaying textures, or colours. Paint a warm yellow over windows

Layer Styles

Layer styles are effects you can add to a layer.
Stroke //    Adds and outline to a layer
Opacity / fill //    Reduce the ‘fill’ to only show the effect

Layer Styles

Drop Shadows //    Casts a shadow.
Direction and distance //    You can just drag in the image to set the direction and distance instead of using the dialogue. It’s much more intuitive.

Layer Styles

Inner Glow //    Good for signage and lighting
Outer Glow //    Good for lighting, great for light sabers!

Layer Styles

Bevel and Emboss //    Looks like the layer is 3D