# PhotoshopElements

# Fill a layer with a color or pattern

You can use a Fill Layer to apply a fill or a pattern to your image, instead of using one of the brush tools. The fill layer gives you the added flexibility of changing the fill and pattern properties and editing the fill layer’s mask to limit the gradient to a portion of your image.

1. Specify a foreground or background color.
2. Select the area you want to fill. To fill an entire layer, select the layer in the Layers palette.
3. Choose Edit > Fill Selection.
4. Set options in the Fill dialog box, and then click OK.
   Contents
     Choose a color from the Use menu. To select a different color, choose Color, and then select a color from the Color Picker. Choose Pattern to fill with a pattern.

   Custom Pattern
     Specifies the pattern to use if you choose Pattern from the Use menu. You can use patterns from the pattern libraries or create your own patterns.

   Mode
     Specifies how the color pattern that you apply blends with the existing pixels in the image.

   Opacity
     Sets the opacity of the color pattern to apply.

   Preserve Transparency
     Fills only opaque pixels.

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- About patterns
- About blending modes
- About foreground and background colors
- Create fill layers

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- This page on the Web