User Guide

Layers 65
For more information about layer composite methods, refer to “Blending Layers by
Using Composite Methods” on page 71. For more information about brush methods,
refer to “Methods and Subcategories” on page 211.
Preserving Layer Transparency
Areas of a layer that don’t contain images are transparent. You can preserve the
transparent areas of a layer with the Preserve Transparency check box on the Layers
palette. This option affects which areas of a layer you can create images on. It also
affects the results of erasing or deleting images on a layer.
By default, the Preserve Transparency check box is disabled, which lets you paint
anywhere on the layer. When Preserve Transparency is enabled, the transparent areas
are preserved, and you are confined to painting on areas of the layer that already
contain images.
The results of painting on a layer with the Preserve Transparency option
disabled (left) and enabled (right).
If you want to paint on a shape, you must first commit the shape to a pixel-based layer.
For more information, see “To paint a shape” on page 350.
A good way to think about the Preserve Transparency option is in terms of a layer
mask. As described in “Working with Layer Masks” in the Help, a layer mask defines
the visible areas of a layer.
Preserve Transparency provides a powerful selective editing capability to create
interesting effects by altering the strokes you’ve already applied. For example, you can
enable Preserve Transparency to fill a set of hand-drawn letters with a pattern, a color
gradient, or other brush strokes.
Preserve Transparency also affects the results of cutting or erasing on a layer.