[attagirl]

How essential are layers when completing projects in photoshop. I have read a lot of tutorials that talk about putting things in layers, but I want to know why it is essential to do the work in layers.

[Country Liv]

LOL! There is not much reason for you to purchase and use Photoshop if you don't use the layer capabilities. Without the layers, Photoshop is like any other graphics program on the low end of capabilities. You can use a layer for every thing you change on a photo or graphic and then you can go back and remove or enhance the individual layers even more! Text always happens on a new layer and this gives you the ability of moving it into place without disturbing any other layer and even deleting it if you change your mind. I guess that's the single most important aspect of layers, the ability to change your mind at any point in the work if you have used added a new layer for each alteration. Even when only using for photo enhancement, adjustment layers help to keep your original photo and ideas separate. Play around with PS and have fun before trying to become adept at it!