When you build an image from different pieces--background color, text, shapes, and photographs--Adobe Photoshop layers give you complete creative control. In this tutorial you'll create a multilayered image, apply a layer mask, and then add a text layer.

1. Open an Image in Photoshop.

Choose File > Open or double-click a thumbnail in the File Browser.

By default, the Layers palette should show. If not, choose Window > Layers. The Layers palette displays all the layers in your document with the layer name and a thumbnail of the layer's image.

2. Convert the background layer.

In the Layers palette, double-click the background layer. Click OK in the New Layer dialog. Converting the background into a regular layer lets you use transparency in this layer. You can now view or hide the layer using the eye icon. Click the eye icon on a layer. Notice that the icon disappears and the layer is hidden. Click the empty icon box again. Both the eye icon and the layer's content reappear.

3. Apply a layer mask.

A layer mask lets you select and display just the part of the image you want to use, without altering the image. Here we'll mask out all of the image except a circular area of the flower. Click and hold the Rectangular Marquee tool, and then select the Elliptical Marquee tool from the pop-up menu. Hold down the Shift key to constrain the selection to a circle, and then drag an area on the image. In the Layers palette, click the Add Layer Mask icon.

Now only the area you selected is visible. You can change the visible area by moving the mask around the image. First click the link icon to unlink the mask from the layer. Select the Move tool, and then click inside the mask and drag to reposition it. Once you have your final position, click the link icon to relink the mask and the layer. Now you can move the layer and the mask will move with it.

4. Add a stroke effect.

Click the Add a Layer Style button at the bottom of the Layers palette, and select Stroke from the menu. Choose stroke settings in the Layer Style dialog box, including color, size, and position of the stroke.

5. Create a new layer.

Click the Create a New Layer button to add a new layer to the image. The new layer is added on top of existing layers and becomes the selected layer. Click the Foreground color swatch and select a color with the Color Picker. Select the Paint Bucket tool (located in the toolbox with the Gradient tool) and click anywhere in the image to create the fill.

6. Reorder the layers.

Click the new layer and drag it beneath the lower layer. Changing the stacking order of your layers makes certain parts of the image appear in front of or behind other layers.

7. Add a text layer.

In the Layers palette, click the top layer. Select the Text tool, and then click on the image. The text cursor appears. In the options bar, change text size, font, style, or color to your liking.When you add text, Photoshop automatically places it on its own layer, where you can edit it separately from the rest of the image.

To edit the text, select it with the Text tool, and then change any of the settings in the options bar. To move the text, select the Move tool and then drag the text.

8. Add an effect to the text.

Click the Add a Layer Style button and select Drop Shadow from the menu. You can change the color or angle of the shadow or make other adjustments in the Layer Style dialog box.

In the Layers palette, the layer effect shows under the layer name. You can turn display of the layer effect on or off by clicking the eye icon next to the effect.