Dedicated to Styles in Photoshop. What are styles? What are they needed for? What can you do with them? What styles are there and how to apply them? All these questions can be answered in this series of articles. I'll also go through each of the style effects and go over all the basic settings.
What are styles?
Styles, in general, are created exclusively for the web. A sort of analogue of symbols, only in Photoshop. Styles appeared as a response to styles in another, once competing program. Macromedia Fireworks , which is designed exclusively for web graphics. Then Adobe bought Macromedia and the competition is over. But the styles remain.
The best thing about styles is that they are not permanently applied like Filters. They are “stretched” in the form of a kind of “skin” over graphic elements. Styles are live effects that you can always go into and tweak the settings. Styles can be saved. They even need to be saved, this is their main meaning: creating a style, saving and subsequent application to all objects of the same type.
It turns out to be an analogue Appearance in Illustrator, except that Styles appeared in Photoshop 10-15 years earlier.
Where are styles located in Photoshop?
Styles are found in many places, menus, and panels. To apply a style to a layer, just go to the menu Layer > Layer Style and select the desired style. In the same menu there are other style settings which I will talk about later.
Another and most common way to apply styles is in the layers panel. Layers, which can be opened via Windows > Layers. How to use? You can double-click the middle part of the layer, or open the drop-down menu at the bottom of the panel - an icon with the inscription fx. This is another way to take advantage of style.
You can also use styles from the styles panel Style. You can open it via Windows > Styles. This panel contains all downloaded this moment Photoshop styles. You can also create new styles through it. And delete the old ones. If you have never worked with styles, then most likely it contains default styles. These collections are found in Photoshop by default. Default styles can be safely deleted; if necessary, you can return them with one click from the drop-down menu in the same Styles panel.
Another way to manage styles is Preset Manager. This dialog box is the settings manager. It is not difficult to guess that it controls the saved settings. For example, styles. As well as brushes, shapes, curves and most of what can be saved in Photoshop as a template setting. Preset Manager- a rather ancient dialog box. Its advantage over the same style panel Styles is that through Preset Manager You can perform group operations. For example, select a group of styles and save them as a single collection.
Styles are contained in all settings panels of all vector primitives. For example, in the tool settings Rectangle Tool or Custom Shape Tool. The fact is that Styles are precisely intended for use in conjunction with these tools. That's why they are in their settings panels. You can select a tool Rectangle Tool and immediately attach a style to it. Then start drawing buttons for the site. This is what styles were created for.
How to use styles?
Style can be applied to anything and in any way. To a vector object, to a raster object, to a font, to a smart layer, or to a full-fledged photograph, although the latter makes no sense. Styles solve slightly different problems. In general, the style can be applied to absolutely any layer, even to fill layers and color correction layers, but it can only be applied to them in conjunction with a mask. Why?
The color correction layer and the fill layer are an endless canvas, expanding in all directions. When we apply a mask to these layers, the layer is given a shape. And along with the form, we get the opportunity to see styles. Analogy is an empty layer. You can also attach styles to it, but the effect will only be visible when at least some pixels appear on the layer.
The easiest way to use styles: select a tool Type Tool and type any text. Open Layer Styles using any of the methods described above. For example, from the layer panel - icon fx. or double click on the layer or in the menu - Layer > Layer Style. The Layer Styles dialog box appears. Layer Style.
There are 3 areas in the dialog box:
- Styles menu - left narrow area. Here is a list of all the styles for the layer, as well as the layer overlay settings and the styles window.
- Style settings - medium large area. Here are the settings for the specific style selected.
- Buttons - right narrow area. Here you can approve the layer, save it in the style or cancel the result of the settings, as well as a small preview window in which the final style is visible.
Choose any style, for example Drop Shadow- shadow, check the box in the left menu, scroll through the settings, click OK. And your first style is ready.
Styles panel
Let's talk about the style panel Styles. This panel doesn't have many options, to put it mildly. It, in fact, beautifully displays the loaded styles, allowing you to select and “put” the ones you need on layers in Photoshop. In the default layout, the panel contains standard styles, and a white crossed out icon indicates that the style has been cleared Clear Style.
Here's the thing. The style is applied to the layer and appears in the Layers panel. But even if you turn off all the style effects, the style does not disappear. He is simply invisible. The settings remain, the style remains, it’s just not active. Long attached lists of style effects to those layers where the style is not needed are sometimes annoying. But you can clear a layer from the style only by selecting from the menu Clear Layer Style. Or by clicking on the white icon with a red line.
At the bottom of the panel there are familiar functions:
- Clear Layer Style— clears the layer of all styles.
- Create New Style— the leaf icon creates a new style from scratch. You can also create a style simply by clicking on an empty part of the Styles panel.
- Delete Style— to delete a style, you need to click on it and drag it onto the trash can icon.
In the upper right corner of the panel there is a drop-down menu icon, which contains a bunch of different and useful things. The menu is divided into subgroups according to meaning.
In the first group the only option is Create New Style, she also creates a new style.
The second group contains a method for displaying styles on the panel. List, icons, small or large.
Third Preset Manager, which calls the settings manager discussed above.
The next group contains operations that control styles.
- Reset Styles— returns styles to default state
- Save Styles— saves the styles of the style panel in a special file. The same file can be uploaded back.
- Load Styles— loads styles from a special file. This is done in order not to overload the panel with styles, but rather to keep everything of the same type across files.
The fifth group contains a list of template styles for Photoshop. You can load them into the style panel by simply selecting any from the list. Next press the button OK, this will replace the panel styles with new ones. Or Apprend- this will add styles to the existing ones.
The last group closes the styles panel Styles.
How to use the Styles panel?
To use saved styles, you need to create any layer - an image or an inscription. The layer needs to be selected, and in the styles panel click on the desired style.
Styles in the Layer Styles dialog box
Few people know, but styles can also be selected from the Layer Styles dialog box. They are located at the top of the menu. They're easy to miss because the tab looks like the name of a list rather than one of its sections. Essentially this is the same style panel, only built into the dialog box Layer Styles. It behaves exactly the same as the style panel. Everything is identical, even the drop-down menu.
How to add styles in Photoshop
Loading ready-made styles into Photoshop is very simple. Firstly, the entire Internet is filled with similar collections of styles for all occasions. Secondly, you can create your own styles and save their similar file. Styles are saved in the format ASL. To load styles, open the styles panel Style and in the top right corner, click the drop-down menu icon. From the menu select Load Styles to load styles into the panel. When you press OK styles from the panel will be replaced with new ones. When you press Apprend new styles will be added to the old ones.
The second way to load styles is through the Layer Styles dialog box. Layer Style in the tab Styles. This section is the same style panel, but built into this dialog box. Load Styles You must again select from the drop-down menu.
The third way to add styles is through the vector tools settings panels. In the settings of any vector drawing primitive there is a styles tab. It looks like the same style panel Styles. This time it's built into the vector tools settings. The method is the same. In the upper right corner there is a drop-down menu button in which you need to select Load Styles.
And with this I will complete the first generalized analysis of styles in Photoshop. In the following articles I will describe the operation and settings of each style separately.
Let's get back to working with layers. We're talking about a dialog box. Layer Style and the effects and settings that this window offers.
Layer styles are reversible and remain editable as long as you save the document as PSD file. As the layer's content changes, the styles also change.
Layer styles are great for adding finishing touches to a drawing, and they can really make text and graphics pop off the page! In this article we will look at what are layer styles, Where are they located and how to apply.
First, let's get acquainted with this window. Let's create/open any image. Now let's turn our attention to the layers palette. Double-click on the layer to which you intend to apply the special effect. A dialog box will open Layer Style.
Note
Blending Options
Let’s move straight to the most interesting and “delicious”...
Ready-made Photoshop special effects
Looking ahead, I note that in the settings of all parameters, except for embossing, there are such parameters as Overlay and Opacity. Thus, you can adjust these two parameters both for the entire object as a whole (see point above), and for its individual elements, adjusting the color rendition.
Photoshop CS5 offers the following effects for use:
Shadow
An outer shadow is applied to the layer. You can edit the size, span and offset, the angle of incidence of the shadow and select its color. You can change its quality by increasing the percentage of noise or changing its contour. By the way, from the latter, through experimentation, you can achieve very interesting effects, since the shadow will be greatly deformed, sometimes becoming completely different from itself.
In this case, the shadow will fall from the edges to the center of the object. Thus creating the effect of depth. The settings are no different from an ordinary shadow.
The name speaks for itself. The object appears to glow. You can configure the glow to be not one color, but a gradient from one to another. The size and scope of the glow, as well as its quality, can be adjusted.
Same as with inner shadow. There is only one difference in the settings: you can specify the source of the glow (From the center or At the edges)
Embossing (Outline, Texture)
It is deservedly considered the most powerful and adaptable layer style in Photoshop. Traditional use is to transform a flat object into a three-dimensional one, but this is only a small part of the possibilities of this style. In addition, using “Embossing” you can create metallic effects, chrome and gold surfaces, simulated reflections, glass and much more. More.
One of the most incomprehensible styles. Everyone uses it differently. in my example, it looked like glass edges at the paw.
Completely changes the color of the selected layer. It turns out to be a kind of filling. There are practically no settings.
One of the most popular special effects in Photoshop. Useful when you need to apply a gradient to specific object in the image.
I have never used such an effect before. He seems stupid to me. The point is that it fills the image not with color, as was already the case, but with some kind of pattern. Maybe they made it for web graphics, I don’t see any other uses.
Outlines the entire image. Editable color and position (Outside, Inside, From the center). A useful parameter is the type of headband, where there is a gradient. In general, gradients always only decorate the image.
There is another way to display the discussed dialog box, but with it already in advance open settings desired effect. To do this, click on fx button at the bottom of the Layers palette. A small menu will appear where you only need to select an effect. After this, a window with settings will immediately open.
At the end of the lesson, let's see what the final special effects layer looks like:
As you can see, a list of effects that have been applied to it has appeared under the layer. Each of them has a visibility icon, clicking on which you can turn off the effect, for example, Gradient Overlay. To the right of the thumbnail is the inscription fx - indicates that effects have been applied to the layer. Click on the arrow to collapse them.
If you notice an error in the text, select it and press Ctrl + Enter. Thank you!
View other materials on installing add-ons in Photoshop
How to Install a Font in Photoshop
How to Set a Shape in Photoshop
How to install an Action in Photoshop
How to install Brush in Photoshop
A set manager window opens, where we select the “Styles” type and click the “Load” button, after which another window opens, this is the folder for saving styles. The default folder is empty:
Here in this folder, as in a regular one Windows folder, you need to put the ASL file, and then double-click on it. The folder window will close and the new set of styles will appear in the Styles panel. The styles panel opens through the main menu tab Window --> Styles.
Carbon site.asl, which you can download.
In addition, you can put the ASL file in the folder C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CC 2014\Presets\Styles. For example, I put my file in this folder Carbon site.asl, which you can download.
You need to restart Photoshop.
After the restart, open the style panel, click on the button in the right top corner, our file will be in the list:
All that remains is to click on the line with the file name and the set will appear in the panel.
Author Irina Spdarenko. A link to the article and author is required.
What are styles?
Styles in Photoshop are a set of layer effects. Combinations of these effects create styles. As a rule, this set imitates some material or effect, some state of matter. For example, sparkling gold, sparkling ice, colored glass, mosaic, etc.
When creating a composition, you simply draw the desired element and apply the appropriate style to it. Most often styles are used for quick creation text effects.
A number of styles are available in Photoshop by default.
You can view existing styles by opening the Styles window.
To do this, use the menu command Window > Styles.
How to apply a style
Create some image or inscription in a separate layer, then select some style in the Styles palette and look at the result. If you want to draw with a drawing tool (pencil or brush) immediately in a style, then first select a style and then draw.
If you do not find the style you need in the collection, you should download it from our website or elsewhere. The style file must have an ASL extension (the file can be in a rar or zip archive, you need to unpack it)
How to add styles
The style file with ASL resolution must be placed in the folder where the styles are stored and they will become available in Photoshop. If you installed Photoshop on your C: drive, you will most likely have it in the \Program Files\ folder. Perhaps the styles are in the folder C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop CS\Presets\Styles. But not necessarily, it depends on the version of Photoshop.
If the folder with styles is not found, then you need to know that styles do not have to be stored in this folder. They can be placed anywhere.
But then they will not appear on their own, and they must be downloaded.
How to load styles
Open Photoshop. In the upper right corner of the Styles panel there is a small button with a triangle.
Click it and open a menu that lists the actions you can do with styles. To load a new set, click Load Styles, select the file with the ASL extension, click OK.
Or another way: Menu command Edit>Preset Manager, press the Load button.
How to change the style
Sometimes you like a style but aren't quite happy with it, for example the border is too wide or the color needs to be a little darker. Then you need to correct it - edit it.
Please note that in the Layers panel, symbols have appeared on the image of the layer in which you applied the style fx and a list of effects from which the style is composed appeared under the layer (If you don’t see the list of effects, click the triangular button next to the symbols).
Double-click on this layer in the Layers panel and open the Layer style settings dialog box. At the top right there is a Styles command that opens a window in which you can select or change the style
Experiment with effects and get a new style.
How to save a style in Photoshop
If the experiment was successful and you like the style, then you should save the changes using the New Style button located in the upper right corner of the Layer style panel, immediately below OK and Cancel. Click on it and a new style will appear in the Styles panel.
How to save a style in a separate file
Styles can only be saved as a set in one file. If you want to create a set of new styles, it is better to first clear the layers panel of unnecessary styles, then create new ones and save them separately. To save, click on the round button with a triangle and select Save Styles from the list.
It must be remembered that
The style affects all image details that are on the same layer. If you want to create an image using different styles, then create a picture from different layers and apply effects to each layer separately.
If the style is not displayed quite adequately when applied, then change the resolution of the file you are working with. Menu Image>Image Size, in the parameters window, pay attention to the Resolution line. Some styles do not work correctly at a resolution of 300 dpi, but if you change the value to 72 dpi, then everything will be fine.
When the image size is changed, the style elements are scaled.
To avoid this, there is a simple way: add a new transparent layer and merge the style layer with this new transparent layer (Command context menu Merge). After that, transform as you wish.
This tutorial will help you install new styles for your version of Photoshop.
Note: screenshots operating system Windows10, Photoshop CC 2017. For other versions of Photoshop, the algorithm of actions will be the same.
Open Set Management
To get started, download the file with the new styles from the Internet and unzip it if it is zipped.
Button below the number 1 (in the form of a small arrow) allows you to select the type of add-on you want to install - brushes, textures, shapes, styles, etc.
Button below the number 2 (in the form of a gear) shows the types of addition.
Add the selected style in Photoshop
Click on the small black arrow and from the list that appears, by pressing the left mouse button, select the type of add-on - Styles(Styles):
A new window appears. Here you indicate the address of the downloaded file with styles. This file is located on your desktop or placed in a special folder for downloaded add-ons. In my case, the file is located in the "Styles" folder on the desktop:
Press again Download(Load).
Now, in the dialog box "Manage Sets" You can see at the end of the style set the new styles we just loaded:
Note: If there are many styles, move the scroll bar down and new styles will be visible at the end of the list.
That's it, Photoshop copied specified file with styles in your set. You can use it!
Together with you, I established new styles for myself! Let's see what happened!
If the source contains only ordinary layers with applied styles.
We use this style like this:
Option 1
Open the PSD source with styles, select the text with the ready-made layer style, enter your text.
We get a finished inscription with the applied style.
Option 2
Open the PSD source with styles. Create your document, write the required text. Make as many copies of the text as were created in the PSD source with the styles in the original.
In the PSD source with styles, select the layer, right-click and select Copy Layer Style. Go to your document, select the text layer, right-click and select Paste Layer Style.
If in the source code to apply the smart object effect.
Open a smart object by double-clicking on its thumbnail. Next, change the text layer to your own version of the inscription. Close the smart object after confirming the save.
