Layers for Elementor Layers is now compatible with the World's Fastest page builder. Making it even easier to get your business online. Download for Free Introducing Layers for Elementor Now with all of the best Layers Pro features are built into the free Layers theme, allowing you to customize your site via the WordPress customizer,. Terminals vnc. As of April 2018, 33.2% of Alexa top 1,000,000 websites use HTTPS as default, 57.1% of the Internet's 137,971 most popular websites have a secure implementation of HTTPS, and 70% of page loads (measured by Firefox Telemetry) use HTTPS. Browser integration. Most browsers display a warning if they receive an invalid certificate. We can move layers above and below each other in the Layers panel simply by dragging them. Right now, Layer 2 is sitting above Layer 1, but I can move Layer 2 below Layer 1 by clicking on Layer 2 and, with my mouse button still held down, dragging the layer downward until a highlight bar appears between Layer 1 and the Background layer.
Lesson 10: Doing More with Layers
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Introduction
As we discussed in our lesson on understanding layers, there are many ways to use layers in Photoshop. So far, we've covered a few fundamental skills, including how to use adjustment layers. In this lesson, we'll cover some of the more advanced options, like opacity, blending modes, layer masks, and layer groups. We'll also provide links to additional resources if you want to learn more about using these tools.
If you'd like to follow along, you can download our example file.
Layer opacity
You can control the opacity for almost every layer in a Photoshop document. The opacity determines how transparent or opaque the layer will be. In other words, it controls how much the layers below can show through. Take a look at the example below.
This example uses two different Text layers and a Background layer. The mountains text layer has an opacity of 100%. This layer is completely opaque, meaning nothing below the letters can show through. By contrast, theappalachian text layer has an opacity of 15%. This layer is mostly transparent, meaning you can see through the letters to the background layer.
You can also change the opacity of an Adjustment layer to make it more subtle. For example, if you have a Curves layer that is too intense, you could reduce the opacity to 70-80%. In many situations, this may be easier than modifying the adjustment layer itself.
To adjust layer opacity:
- Select the desired layer, then click the Opacity drop-down arrow at the top of the Layers panel.
- Click and drag the slider to adjust the opacity. You'll see the layer opacity change in the document window as you move the slider. If you set the opacity to 0%, the layer will become completelytransparent, or invisible.
Try this!
Open the example file, then adjust the opacity of the Textlayers to see the effect.
Background transparency
By default, most Photoshop documents use a Background layer. You cannot adjust the opacity of a Background layer, and it cannot be hidden. This is because you won't want the background to have transparency for most projects, especially if you're working with a photograph.
However, there are some situations where you may want a transparent background. If you're creating a logo for a website, for example, a transparent background will allow the website's background color to show through, giving the logo a more seamless and professional look.
If you're following along with the example file, try hiding all layers except the Acorn layer. See the checkerboard pattern behind the acorn? This means the background is completely transparent. The checkerboard won't actually be exported when you save your image; it's only there to indicate transparency.
Note that if you want your image to have a transparent background, you'll need to save it in a format that can handle transparency. We recommend using the PNG-24 format, which is available in the Save for Web dialog box. JPEG files are unable to have transparent backgrounds, so they will save all transparent areas as white.
Blending modes
In addition to adjusting opacity, you can use different blending modes to control how the layers in your document are mixed together. The blending mode menu is located at the top of the Layers panel, next to Opacity.
If you're following along with the example file, select the Record layer. Notice that the blending mode is set to Multiply. Even though the opacity of the Record layer is set to 100%, this blending mode allows the turquoise color from the layer below to show through.
To change the blending mode, click the Blending Mode drop-down menu, then select the desired mode. In the example below, changing the blending mode to Screen will still allow the turquoise background to show through, but this time it appears on the record instead.
Each blending mode creates a different effect, and some are much more noticeable than others. It's also important to note that blending modes will work differently depending on the content of your layers. This means many blending modes may look unnatural, and it's unlikely that all of the modes will look good in your project.
While blending modes give you a lot of flexibility, they can also be tricky to use. To learn more about blending modes, review this tutorial from Photo Blog Stop.
Clipping masks
Earlier in this tutorial, we covered using adjustment layers to correct images. By default, adjustment layers will affect all layers below them. However, there may be times when you only want an adjustment layer to affect one layer. To do this, you can use a clipping mask.
If you're following along with the example file, locate the small arrow next to the Gradient Map layer. This indicates that a clipping mask has been applied, which limits the adjustment layer to just the Acorn layer below.
To apply a clipping mask, press and hold the Alt key on your keyboard (or Option on a Mac), then click between the desired layers in the Layers panel. In this example, we're clicking between the Gradient Map and Acorn layers.
You can also use this method to release a clipping mask. Releasing a clipping mask does not delete the layer, but it causes it to behave like a normal layer. For example, if you release the clipping mask for the Gradient Map layer in the example file, it will affect the color of all of the layers below it instead of only affecting the Acorn layer.
How to remove malware on macbook. It's also important to note that you can apply a clipping mask to multiple adjustment layers above the same layer. For this reason, if you're already using clipping masks in your document, new adjustment layers may use a clipping mask automatically.
Try this!
Open the example file. Select the Acorn layer, then add a Curves adjustment layer. Make sure a clipping mask is applied to the new layer, then modify the curves in the Properties panel. Notice how the curves adjustments only affect the Acorn layer. Next, try reducing the opacity of the adjustment layers to 70%.
To learn more about clipping masks, review this tutorial from Adobe.
Layer masks
Sometimes you may want only certain parts of a layer to be visible. For example, you might want to remove the background from a layer so the layers below it can show through. While you could use the Eraser tool to remove the parts you don't want, this type of destructive editing may be difficult to undo. Fortunately, layer masks allow you to show and hide parts of any layer in a nondestructive way.
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Creating a layer mask can be a bit complicated, so let's start by looking at one that's already finished. If you're following along with the example file, select the Acorn layer. Here, we used a layer mask to hide, or mask out, the background so the acorn is the only part of the layer that's visible. The layer mask is represented by the black-and-white thumbnail to the right of the layer icon in the Layers panel. Notice how the areas that are visible in the document window correspond with the white area on the layer mask thumbnail.
The important thing to recognize here is that the background of the Acorn layer hasn't actually been removed; it's just hidden. If we ever wanted to show more of the original image, we could edit or even remove the layer mask.
To edit a layer mask:
To better understand how layer masks work, let's try editing the the Acorn layer mask. We'll be using the Brush tool, so if you've never used it we recommend reviewing our lesson on working with brushes.
- Select the layer mask thumbnail in the Layers panel. In our example, we'll select the thumbnail next to the Acorn layer.
- Next, choose the Brush tool from the Tools panel, then set the ForegroundColor to white.
- Click and drag your image to reveal areas in the layer. In this example, we're revealing more of the background by adding white paint to the layer mask.
- Set the Foreground Color to black, then click and drag your image to hide areas in the layer.
- Continue using the Brush tool until you're satisfied with the result.
You'll need to take your time and work carefully to get the best possible result, especially when refining the edges of the layer mask around an object. It may be helpful to adjust the size, hardness, and opacity of the Brush tool.
To create a new layer mask:
Now that you know more about layer masks, you may want to try creating your own.
- Select a layer, then click the Layer Mask button at the bottom of the Layers panel. In our example, we'll create a new layer mask for the record layer.
- The layer mask will appear as a white thumbnail next to the layer icon in the Layers panel. You can then select the thumbnail and use the Brush tool to edit the layer mask.
Note that you can apply multiple layer masks to the same layer. However, this can become complicated, so we recommend using only one layer mask per layer.
Using layer masks with adjustment layers
You can use a layer mask to control which areas of your image are affected by an adjustment layer. For example, if you have a Black and White adjustment layer, you could use a layer mask to convert specific areas to black and white while leaving other areas unaffected.
Every adjustment layer has a layer mask by default, so you won't need to create a new one. You can simply click the layer mask and then use the Brush tool to edit it.
To remove a layer mask:
- Click and drag the layer mask thumbnail to the Trash Can in the lower-right corner of the Layers panel.
- A dialog box will appear. Choose Delete to remove the layer mask. Choosing Apply will actually remove the parts of the layer that are currently hidden, so you'll want to avoid this option unless you're absolutely sure that you no longer need these parts of the image.
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You can also press and hold the Shift key and click the thumbnail to temporarily disable the layer mask.
Creating and editing layer masks can be a challenging task, and there are many other methods for achieving good results. To learn more, review these tutorials:
- Mask Out Part of an Image (Adobe)
- A Complete Beginner's Guide to Masking in Photoshop (Design Shack)
Layer groups
Once you start working with multiple layers in your document, it can be difficult to keep them organized. Fortunately, Photoshop allows you to group your layers. You can use groups to keep related layers together, move and edit multiple layers at once, and much more.
To create a group:
- Locate and select the Group button at the bottom of the Layers panel.
- A new empty group will appear. If you want, click and drag the group to reorderit within the Layers panel.
- Click and drag any layer to the group icon in the Layers panel, then release the mouse. Layers that are in a group will be slightly indented from the other layers in the panel.
- Click the arrow to collapse or expand the layer.
- You can now manipulate all of the layers in the group at once. In this example, we're clicking the eye icon to hide all layers within the group.
If you're using Photoshop Elements, you won't be able to create new groups. However, you will be able to view existing groups when working with files created in the full version of Photoshop.
Try this!
Open the example file and create a group. Click and drag all of the Text layers into this new group. Next, select Group 1, then reduce the opacity to 70%. Notice how this changes the opacity for all layers within the group.
To learn more about layer groups, review this tutorial from Adobe.
Merging and flattening layers
If you no longer need to edit certain layers, you might consider merging them. There are many reasons you might want to combine certain layers. For example, if you have multiple adjustment layers you might want to merge them into a single layer before applying other changes, such as sharpening or noise reduction.
To merge layers, select the first layer, press and hold the Shift key, and click the last layer you want to merge (all of the layers between the first and last will be selected). Next, right-click the layers and select Merge Layers. You can also select the layers and then press Ctrl+E (or Command+E on a Mac).
Merging will remove the flexibility and control layers provide, so you should only combine layers if you're sure you no longer need to edit them individually.
Note: Make sure to right-click the layer name, not the layer icon. Otherwise, the menu will not appear.
You can also combine all of the layers in your document into a single Background layer. This is known as flattening the image. To do this, right-click any layer, then select Flatten Image.
Flattening an image is one way to simplify a complex Photoshop project. However, it's important to note that you do not need to flatten images before exporting them. When saving a project as a JPEG or PNG file, all of the layers will be flattened automatically because these file formats cannot have multiple layers.
Try this!
Open the example file. Select the Gradient Map and Acorn layers, then merge them.
To learn more about merging layers, review this video tutorial from Adobe. Inboard 1 1 5 equals.
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I often use AWS Lambda to execute arbitrary Python glue code for use cases such as scraping API endpoints, rotating API tokens, or sending notifications. One shortcoming of this approach is the lack of pip to satisfy import requirements. While I could add the dependencies to the deployment package, this bloats the function code and increases operational toil.
The incorporation of Lambda layers for Python solves this shortcoming by supplying module dependencies without the use of pip. Operational toil is reduced by reusing these layers across numerous Lambda functions. But, how does one include Python library dependencies in a layer, especially when running on a Windows platform?
In this post, I review how to setup Python for Windows and describe my use case scenario for needing Lambda layers for Python. I then deep dive into installing a Python package to a custom location, creating a zip file with all necessary packages and libraries, publishing the zipped code to an AWS Lambda layer, and associating the layer to an AWS Lambda function.
Python Setup for Windows
Microsoft has a great article named Get started using Python on Windows for beginners. Give this a read if you are new to using Python 3.x on the Windows platform. The article suggests installing Python from the Microsoft Store. I enjoy using this method in addition to the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) for creating Python code. You can use one method, or both, depending on your use case.
I'm a heavy Visual Studio Code (VSCode) consumer. Because of this, I also leverage the Python extension for Visual Studio Code. It provides numerous benefits, including linting, debugging, and testing.
With that out of the way, I'll dive into the guide in the following sections.
Use Case Scenario
In this scenario, I construct a Python script to scrape the GitLab GraphQL API and upload the formatted results to InfluxDB using their Python client library. The objective is to monitor continuous integration workflows and environments in a live dashboard. The script must satisfy these requirements:
The influxdb_client package and all dependencies must be stored inside a Lambda layer before the script can be run as a Lambda function. Accomplishing this goal is broken into the following steps:
- Install Python Packages to a Custom Location
- Create the Zip File
- Publish an AWS Lambda Layer
- Associate the Layer to the Function
On with the show!
Install Python Packages to a Custom Location
A Lambda layer accepts content from a zip file or Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3) bucket. The Amazon S3 bucket option is suitable for uploads exceeding 50 MB in size while zip files are handy for smaller packages and libraries. My requirements are relatively small and are easily sent via zip file. The first step in this process is installing the packages locally into a custom target location.
The environmental variable PYTHONUSERBASE defines the user base directory. This is used to determine the installation paths when running python setup.py install --user. I leverage this variable to force a clean installation of the package, and its dependencies, into a custom location using the code below:
Next, I invoke pip with the --user parameter and the name of the Python package.
A squeaky clean requirements.txt file is generated in the user base directory.
The module, and all dependencies, are stored in the root path Codetemp. Python uses several more nested directories based on the version of Python. In this case, it is Python38 because I'm using Python 3.8. Finally, the packages themselves are stored in the site-packages directory.
The full directory and contents are shown below:
This provides all of the required content necessary to construct a custom zip file.
Alternate Installation Method
There is an alternate method for installing the required packages, although it is not as clean. This section can be skipped when using the previous method.
Install the required package and dependencies using pip.
Use pip to show details on the package. The details include a Requires: section that lists all libraries and packages needed by parent package, influxdb-client. This information provides a list of packages to store into the zip file. All packages can be found at the Location: directory.
This provides everything necessary to construct a custom zip file.
Create the Zip File
AWS Lambda has very specific requirements when loading content from a zip file. Layers are extracted to the /opt directory in the function execution environment. The package contents must be stored in a folder named python in order to load properly.
Anymp4 pdf converter 3 2 12 download. I move all of the site-packages content to a new folder at Codepython. The python folder is zipped as python.zip. Thus, all contents in the zip file live in a folder named python as shown below:
This meets the requirements for AWS Lambda layers for Python.
Publish an AWS Lambda Layer
All further steps are accomplished with the AWS Command Line Interface (CLI). It is a very useful tool that can do almost anything without having to visit the Console. 🙂
I use publish-layer-version to generate a new layer. If the layer already exists, the command creates a new version of the layer. I'm a fan of using --compatible-runtimes to make compatibility clear, although this parameter is not required.
The command below generates a new layer. Note that fileb:// is a required prefix when reading a binary file such as the zip file.
The command returns a JSON payload as the result. Write down the LayerVersionArn for later.
A Quick Note on Working with Layers
I'm often interrupted with numerous things. In some cases, I lose the LayerVersionArn or forget the layer information entirely. Using list-layers gives a list of the layers – surprise!
The --compatible-runtime filter is handy when searching for a specific type of layer.
Shree manache shlok with meaning in marathi pdf. Alternatively, list-layer-versions is helpful when the layer name is known but the version history is not.
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These commands are great when sorting through layers to find the ARN or version.
Associate the Layer to the Function
The final step! In my scenario, the function is already created. Thus, I use the update-function-configuration command to associate the new layer with the existing function. The LayerVersionArn recorded earlier becomes the value passed to the --layers parameter.
The function is now using the new influxdb-client-python layer, version 1, as part of the function code. Even if a new version of the layer is published, the function code will continue to operate based on version 1. To use a new layer version with the function, run the function update command again with the new layer version number appended to the layer's ARN.
Cleanup Tasks
I destroy the temp folder containing the required modules after verifying that the function code is operational. The PYTHONUSERBASE environmental variable is cleared when the console session closes. This maintains a clean working environment.
Adding Layers in the Future
I later decide to use the requests package. Rather than update my layer, I leverage the work over at Klayers. Run the function update command an additional time while including both layers. The command is not additive – all desired layers must be declared.
The function code now uses my influxdb-client packages along with the requests package provided by Klayers. Lambda allows for 5 layers per function, providing the opportunity to perhaps add an AWSome Lambda Layers for Python in the future!
Next Steps
Please accept a crisp high five for reaching this point in the post!
If you'd like to learn more about Cloud Architecture, or other modern technology approaches, head over to the Guided Learning page.
If there's anything I missed, please reach out to me on Twitter. Cheers! 🙂
