Part III: Advanced Layer Features Starts off with the use of layers with Blending modes. Blending modes allow you to mix the pixels of different layers together to get different effects. Then you move on to Masks and how they can really take your Photoshop abilities to a new level. Explored here are layer, vector, and clipping masks.
From here you learn about Layer Styles and how they are really time-savers. It explores how to create, use Layer Styles, and explains what each layer effect does in depth. Then you will see how Layer Comps work to create snapshots of the state of your layers. These allow you to create multiple new compositions and with Layer Comps you can switch between the different versions to decide which you like best or have different versions available of the same image for multiple designs.
Part IV: Using Layers in Real-World Situations begins with how all that you have learned thus far really works in the real world. This includes creating alternate versions of your documents, flattening documents, using Photoshop in a team, and alternate ways of achieving the same goals. Then you will see how to use Layers in other applications such as QuarkXPress, Illustrator, and Flash.
If the prior chapters focused on the technical aspects of Layers, then you now begin to look at the more practical side. First you examine how to design with layers. This includes building a web page layout, creating a brochure, and producing a flyer. Next you see how to manipulate photographs by using layers. Here you see how to improve contrast, correct color casts, adjusting skin, and work with the new Auto-Align feature in CS3. Finally you work with posters, calendars, and other types of projects.
Part V: Appendixes explores what comes on the included CD-Rom disk: the author-created materials, a PDF version of this book, and more than 90 stock images. There is also a section that highlights the Photoshop short cut keys for manipulating layers.
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