Working with Layers and Selections Flashcards

Which Photoshop command lets you load a layer's contents as an active selection?

Answer: Ctrl/Cmd-click the layer thumbnail

Ctrl/Cmd-clicking a layer thumbnail loads the non-transparent pixels of that layer as an active selection.

What is a Smart Object in Photoshop?

Answer: A layer container that preserves the original source data, allowing non-destructive edits

Smart Objects encapsulate source content so you can scale, warp, and apply filters non-destructively without losing quality.

When using the Quick Selection tool, what does holding Alt (Option on Mac) do?

Answer: Subtracts from the current selection

Holding Alt/Option while using the Quick Selection tool switches it to subtract mode, removing areas from the selection.

Which layer style adds a color, gradient, or pattern to a layer without painting directly on it?

Answer: Overlay (Color, Gradient, or Pattern Overlay)

Color, Gradient, and Pattern Overlay layer styles apply a fill on top of a layer's contents non-destructively.

What does the Expand option under Select > Modify do?

Answer: Grows the selection outward by a set number of pixels

Select > Modify > Expand enlarges the selection boundary outward by the number of pixels you specify.

In Photoshop, what is the 'Fill' percentage on a layer different from 'Opacity'?

Answer: Fill affects only the layer's pixels, not layer styles; Opacity affects everything including styles

Fill controls the transparency of a layer's painted content only, while layer styles remain at full visibility; Opacity affects both.

Which command would you use to align selected layers to the left edge of the canvas in Photoshop?

Answer: Layer > Align > Left Edges

Layer > Align > Left Edges aligns the left edges of all selected layers to the leftmost element or canvas edge.