The Layer Style dialog box looks complex but is easy to use. You can apply preset styles which are found in the Styles palette, or edit styles to create your own. To apply a style, select the layer to which you want to apply an effect and then choose [Layer]-[Layer Style]. Alternatively, you can double-click the preview graphic for the desired layer in the Layers palette. Select a style and, when the preferences for that style appear, adjust the settings. Click OK to apply. To apply a preset style, click on the Styles option at the top-left corner and choose from the style presets that appear.
a. Styles – click here to bring up the palette of preset styles. Select one to apply it to the layer.
b. Effects – Click the box of the effect(s) you’d like to apply. Highlight the effect name to bring up the options specific to that effect.
c. Blending options – when no style is selected, this area allows you to adjust the blend or opacity of the layer. When a layer style is selected in the left-hand menu, the options specific to that style appear here.
General Blending is used to adjust blend modes and opacity
Advanced Blending is used to adjust the Fill Opacity, Channels or Knockout options.
The slider under Blend If is used to adjust the color range for the selected layer and the layer beneath.
d. New Style – After adjusting the options to your satisfaction, click the [New Style] button to save the current layer style for future use.
Setting up Layer Styles
This section shows you the effect of each of the layer styles on an image, as well as their available options. The first layer style to be found on the left of the Layer Style dialog box is the Drop Shadow layer style. This section starts off by covering the options for the Drop Shadow layer style in detail.
Layer Style Parameter Descriptions
Because many of the layer styles have the same options, options that are already covered in one section will not be repeated in the other sections. There can be minor differences in how a given option will affect different layer styles, but these variations are usually very intuitive.
The Drop Shadow Layer Style
The Drop Shadow style adds a shadow behind the selected image. Adjustments can be made to the shadow color, opacity, angle and length.
Blend Mode – sets the shadow blending mode. The default mode is Multiply.
Opacity – sets the shadow opacity. The default is 75%.
Angle – sets the shadow angle. The default value is 30o.
Distance – sets the shadow length. The default value is 5 pixels.
Spread – sets how far the shadow spreads. The default value is 0 pixels. A greater value creates stronger shadows.
Size – sets the size of the shadow spread. The default value is 5 pixels. Greater values create more blurred edges.
Contour – sets the curves for the shadow
Noise – sets the amount of noise in the shadow
Layer Knocks Out Drop Shadow – determines the shadow’s visibility on a semi-transparent layer
Use Global light – when checked, the selected angle will apply to all the layer styles in your image (including those on other layers)
Thumbnail preview – shows you how the selected settings will look using a thumbnail square as an example.
Preview – shows you how the settings will look on the actual image
Color – sets the color of the shadow
The Inner Shadow Layer Style
Inner Shadow applies a shadow inside the image and can be used to create a cutout effect
Choke – a greater value creates stronger shadows
Anti-aliased – smooths the edges of the contour
The Outer Glow Layer Style
Outer Glow is used to add a reflective glow around the image
Gradient – click to apply a preset or customized gradient to the glow
Technique – represents the spread of light. Softer applies soft light and Precise applies distinct light.
Range – sets how the curves contour is applied
Jitter – sets the degree of jitter.
The Inner Glow Layer Style
This command applies a reflective glow inside the selected image
Source – represents the spread of light. Center sheds the light from the center outwards, and Edge sheds the light from the edges towards the inside.
The Bevel and Emboss Layer Styles
The Bevel and Emboss layer style is used to create dimensional effects in the image. There are seven different bevel and emboss styles to choose from in the Bevel and Emboss Layer Style dialog box. Clicking on the Style drop-down menu will reveal the Outer Bevel, Inner Bevel, Emboss, Pillow Emboss, and Stroke Emboss style options. Let’s have a look at each of these styles:
Outer bevel: Applies on effect as if the layer is raised above the underlying image
Inner Bevel: Chisels the layer inward to create a 3D effect
Emboss: Creates an effect similar to applying both an outer and inner bevel
Pillow emboss: Makes the layer appear like it has been embedded in the underlying image
Stroke emboss: Applies the embossing effects to the edges of the layer
Style – sets the bevel/emboss style
Technique – adjusts the smoothness of the bevel/emboss
Depth – adjusts the degree of protrusion
Direction – adjusts the direction in which the bevel/emboss protrudes. Setting this to Down reverses the direction of the highlights and shadows
Size – sets the size of the bevel/emboss effect
Soften – adjusts the softness of the edges
Angle – highlights are created in the direction of the indicated angle and shadows are created automatically in the opposite direction
Altitude – sets the height of the light
Highlight and Shadow Modes – adjusts the blend mode, color, and opacity of the highlights and shadows
Use Global Light – when checked, the selected angle will apply to all the layer styles in your image (including those on other layers).
Applying the Stroke Emboss Style
To apply the Stroke Emboss effect, the Stroke layer style has to be selected together with the Bevel and Emboss style (in the left column of the Layer Style dialog box).
Additional Settings
There are two other settings for the Bevel and Emboss layer style besides the structural and shading settings which were covered in the preceding section. These two settings are the Contour and Texture settings. To access the options for these two settings, click the Contour or Texture checkbox on the left of the Bevel and Emboss Layer dialog box.
Contour
The setting applies additional contouring to the bevel/emboss effect.
Texture
The texture setting applies textures mapping inside the embossed image.
Pattern – applies a preset or customized pattern to the bevel or emboss
New Preset – saves a customized pattern as a new preset pattern
Scale and Depth – adjusts the size and depth of the pattern in the texture
Invert – flips the texture
Link with Layer – specifies that the texture moves with the layer. If this option isn’t selected, the texture will shift “inside” the layer when it’s moved.
Snap to origin – snaps the texture’s origin with the image if the Link with Layer option is not selected. If the Link with Layer option is selected, this option snaps the texture’s origin with the layer’s top-left corner.
The Satin Layer Style
Satin can be used to create shiny metallic effects
Blend mode – select the blend mode of the shine
Opacity – sets the opacity of the shine
Angle – determines the angle of the shine
Distance – Modifies the distance of the shine
Size – adjusts the size of the size
Contour – chooses the shape of the reflection
The Color Overlay Layer Style
Color Overlay colors the layer using a single color.
Blend Mode – sets the blend mode for the overlay
Color Select – chooses the overlay color
Opacity – adjusts the opacity
The Gradient Overlay Layer Style
Gradient Overlay fills the image with a gradient
Blend Mode – adjusts the blend mode of the gradient
Opacity – changes the opacity of the gradient
Gradient – sets the gradient colors
Style – modifies the shape (linear, radial, conical, reflect, diamond) of the gradient
Angle – determines the angle of the gradient
Scale – specifies the distance of the gradient
Align with Layer – specifies that the gradient moves with the layer. If this option isn’t selected, the gradient will shift “inside” the layer when it is moved.
Reverse – reverses the direction of the gradient
Pattern Overlay Layer Style
Pattern – selects the overlay pattern
Scale – adjusts the size of the pattern overlay
Link with Layer – specifies that the pattern moves with the layer. If this option isn’t selected, the pattern will shift “inside” the layer when it is moved
Snap to Origin - the pattern is filled in from the top-left corner down
The Stroke Layer Style
Stroke adds a line around the image edge using a solid color, gradient, or pattern
