Selecting layers

If an image has multiple layers, you must choose which layer you want to work on. Any changes you make to the image affect only the active layer. You select a layer to make it active, and only one layer can be active at a time. The name of the active layer appears in the title bar of the document window, and a paintbrush icon appears next to the layer in the Layers palette.

If you don't see the desired results when using a tool or applying a command, you may not have the correct layer selected. Check the Layers palette to make sure that you're working on the desired layer.

To select a layer:

Do one of the following:

• Click a layer in the Layers palette.
• Select the move tool, right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac OS) in the image, and choose a layer from the context menu. The context menu lists all the layers that contain pixels under the current pointer location.

You can also select layers interactively as you use the move tool. If Auto Select Layer is selected in the Move tool options, the topmost layer containing pixels under the cursor will be selected. (See Moving selections and layers within an image.)