Datasheet

Welcome to Adobe Photoshop CS4

Part I

The type of layer shown is a shape layer, a layer completely filled with a color (in this case, black)

and that has a vector layer mask that hides part of the color on the layer, leaving visible what looks

like a shape. White areas on a vector mask allow the color on the layer to be visible; gray on a vec-

tor mask hides the layer’s color. The layer name is “Shape Layer-Black,” and the vector layer mask

is immediately to the left of the layer name.

The dog path on the mask allows the corresponding area of black color on the layer to be visible,

and the leftover gray part of the vector mask hides all the other black on the layer (makes it invisi-

ble, or transparent). The vector mask in Figure 1.3 is small, so it’s hard to see that the dog path on

the vector mask is filled with white; if you examine the file on the CD, you can see that it is filled

with white.The dog path has also been saved in the Paths palette, just for safekeeping. All paths in

the Paths palette and on vector layer masks are vector components of the image.

Figure 1.4 shows a vector image in which the vector information is stored in a Smart Object.

FIGURE 1.4

A vector-only image in which the vector information is contained in a Smart Object

Smart Object layers have a special icon at the lower right of the layer thumbnail and can contain

linked Photoshop or Illustrator files. Smart Objects also allow certain Photoshop functions that

regular layers may not allow. To confirm that a Smart Object contains vector information, you can

double-click the Smart Object, and check the linked file that opens for vector information.

CROSS-REF

Smart Objects are discussed in Chapter 8.

Vector-only files can contain color, but in order to take full advantage of the vector format, separate

colors must be on separate layers; however, gradients that include more than one color can be on a

vector layer. Gradients generally don’t contain the kind of detail that requires the bitmap format.