Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
All these methods copy everything in the active layer into the new layer. You can then mess
with the duplicate as much as you want without damaging the original. Also, all of these
methods except the keyboard shortcut and dragging onto the New Layer icon bring up a dia-
log box where you can name the new layer and even choose to use it in a new file or in an-
other image (if you have more than one image open).
Copying and Cutting from Layers
You can also create a new layer that consists of only a
piece
of an existing layer. This is help-
ful when you want to do things like apply a layer style to one object on the layer. But first
you need to decide whether you want to
copy
your selection or
cut
it out and place it on the
new layer.
What's the difference? It's pretty much the same as copying versus cutting in your word-pro-
cessing program. When you use the “New Layer via Copy” command (you'll learn where to
find this command in a sec), the area you select appears in the new layer and remains in the
old layer, too. “New Layer via Cut,” on the other hand, removes the selection from the old
layer and places it on the new layer, leaving a corresponding hole in the old layer.
Figure 6-8
shows the difference.
