Digital Scrapbooking Tips

On a recent trip to an amusement park, I rode the beautiful, old-fashioned carousel with my son. After a few rounds I found myself asking what was so appealing about the repetitive up and down, round and round motion. Thankfully the ride ended before I turned green. And fortunately, there are shortcuts for moving layers up and down in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements that are quick and easy!

When you move a new image onto your Photoshop or Photoshop Elements project, the software places it one layer above the selected layer. Sometimes this hides the new image behind existing layers.

You can move the new layer up in the hierarchy several ways:

• Click and drag the layer up in the Layers Palette

• Press the Ctrl + Right Bracket ] key (Mac: Cmd + ] key) to move the layer up one position. Repeat the keystrokes until the layer is in place.

• Press Shift + Ctrl + Right Bracket ] key (Mac: Shift + Cmd + ] ) to move the layer to the top of your project.

To move the layer downward in the hierarchy, use the opposite commands

• Click and drag the layer down in the Layers Palette

• Press the Ctrl + Left Bracket [ key (Mac: Cmd + [ key) to move the layer down one position. Repeat the keystrokes until the layer is in place.

• Press Shift + Ctrl + Left Bracket [ key (Mac: Shift + Cmd + [ ) to move the layer to the bottom of your project.