Layers Comps are new in Photoshop CS. For those who wonder how these work here is my story… Funny thing is I’ve never used this new feature and I’m sure this is a handy tool. Once you know how it works it is indispensable.
Guess I’m just one of those users who doesn’t take the time to open the manual and read all about the new features. Just started exploring myself, and even for this I found myself not taking the time enough to do this more often. The Layer Comps feature is one of those features I’m thinking about for a long time to explore but just didn’t take the time to do it. Every project I’m working on has to be done by yesterday and so I don’t find the extra time to sit back, relax and do some exploring. The time “left” is to think about design and being creative… Maybe this is a bit wrong since new features can save me heaps of time… I know I can’ help it. Anyway I’m glad I have my blog… I have to think about what I’ll write next and this way I make time to explore, so you learn from it, but believe me, I learn a lot too ;-)
Here we go… Layer Comps are a bit like “snapshots” of the Layers palette. It records the stacking order and visibility of each layer, as well as the layer styles and the position of the content of each layer in the image. It’s not like the snapshot feature in the History palette since Layer Comps are actually preserved when you save your document and reopen it afterwards.
In other words this feature is handy if you want to save different versions of a design or image all together bundled in 1 document. If you need to show your client different variations of a design this could be a way to do it. It is also ideal to experiment with different layers styles, since you can all save them in Layer Comps. Switching between the different Comps can be done using the next and previous buttons at he bottom of the palette.
Another thing I’ve noticed is that the file size stays almost as good as the same (each layer comp adds about only 1 KB). Haven’t used this feature so far but now that I got to know it I’ll use it now and then to save different variations of designs. I’m wondering, do you often use this Layer Comp feature? Do you find it useful? What are your experiences with this and other new features in Photoshop CS? You know I’m always eager to find out other people’s methods ;-)
Guess I’m just one of those users who doesn’t take the time to open the manual and read all about the new features. Just started exploring myself, and even for this I found myself not taking the time enough to do this more often. The Layer Comps feature is one of those features I’m thinking about for a long time to explore but just didn’t take the time to do it. Every project I’m working on has to be done by yesterday and so I don’t find the extra time to sit back, relax and do some exploring. The time “left” is to think about design and being creative… Maybe this is a bit wrong since new features can save me heaps of time… I know I can’ help it. Anyway I’m glad I have my blog… I have to think about what I’ll write next and this way I make time to explore, so you learn from it, but believe me, I learn a lot too ;-)
Here we go… Layer Comps are a bit like “snapshots” of the Layers palette. It records the stacking order and visibility of each layer, as well as the layer styles and the position of the content of each layer in the image. It’s not like the snapshot feature in the History palette since Layer Comps are actually preserved when you save your document and reopen it afterwards.
In other words this feature is handy if you want to save different versions of a design or image all together bundled in 1 document. If you need to show your client different variations of a design this could be a way to do it. It is also ideal to experiment with different layers styles, since you can all save them in Layer Comps. Switching between the different Comps can be done using the next and previous buttons at he bottom of the palette. Another thing I’ve noticed is that the file size stays almost as good as the same (each layer comp adds about only 1 KB). Haven’t used this feature so far but now that I got to know it I’ll use it now and then to save different variations of designs. I’m wondering, do you often use this Layer Comp feature? Do you find it useful? What are your experiences with this and other new features in Photoshop CS? You know I’m always eager to find out other people’s methods ;-)
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