Changing the stacking order of layers

The stacking order in the Layers palette determines whether the content of a layer or layer set appears in front of or behind other elements in the image.

To change the order of layers and layer sets:

Do one of the following:

• Drag the layer or layer set up or down in the Layers palette. Release the mouse button when the highlighted line appears where you want to place the layer or layer set.
• To move a layer into a layer set, drag a layer to the layer set folder . The layer is placed at the bottom of the layer set.

Note: If a layer set is expanded so that you can see all the layers within it, adding a layer beneath the expanded set automatically adds the layer to that set. To avoid this, collapse the layer set before adding the new layer.

• Select a layer or layer set, choose Layer > Arrange, and choose a command from the submenu. If the selected item is in a layer set, the command applies to the stacking order within the layer set. If the selected item is not in a layer set, the command applies to the stacking order within the Layers palette.
• (ImageReady) To reverse the order of selected layers, choose Layer > Reverse Layers or choose Reverse Layers from the Layers palette menu. Note that these options appear dimmed if you do not have at least two layers selected.

Note: By definition, the background layer is always at the bottom of the stacking order. Therefore, the Send to Back command places the selected item directly above the background layer. (See About the background layer.)