| PaintShop Photo Pro X3 for Photographers · We'll also take a detailed look at Mask layers, briefly introduced in the last chapter. In the step-by-step projects section at the end of the chapter, I'll show you how to put together everything you've learned to create a photomontage from a bunch of holiday photos, how to use layer deformations to create realistic shadows, and how to mask an Adjustment layer to produce a graduated color effect. Layers allow you to combine several images ­ each stacked one above the other ­ in a single document. The biggest advantage of layers is that they allow you to put elements on top of one another without destroying what's underneath. But, as we shall see, the advantages of using layers go far beyond that. Understanding Layers What is a layer? A layer is simply one picture sitting directly on top of another. Layers can contain whole photos, text, vector drawings, scanned art or anything else that can be digitized. You can add as many layers as