[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwITfIidzC0&w=640&h=360]

Do you use layer groups in Photoshop just for organizing your layers?

In this quick 10-minute video, Julieanne Kost demonstrates 5 ways to make use of layer groups in Photoshop that go well beyond organization. All of these techniques can be used in Photoshop CS6 or Photoshop CC.

Here’s a quick summary of the 5 ways to use layer groups.

1. Blending modes apply to group of layers to make the effect appear as if the layers have been merged.
2. Styles for layers (e.g., drop shadows, etc.) in groups are applied as if the layers have been merged.
3. The ability to restrict how the layers interact within the group versus the layers in the rest of the document. For example, a black and white adjustment layer can be restricted to layers within group.
4. The ability to clip a texture or another color to a group by using a clipping mask.
5. Mask multiple layers within a group with a single mask.

Watch the video to see how to make these work in the Photoshop interface.