Perhaps it would be better to consider graphic design more like a cake, a much more appealing food.  Many who enjoy a nice piece of cake appreciate the importance of layers and how delicious they can make the delectable dessert.  When it comes to making a powerful, effective piece of design, especially in reference to Photoshop, the key is layers as well.

When applying photography, art, or even a typeface, layers make design easier and more pleasing to the eye.  A layer, simply put, is a level on which you work on in any given project window.  For example, you may have a picture on one layer, a title on another, and a background color on yet another layer.  By separating each element onto different layers, you allow yourself to edit a single piece of the design without affecting any of the rest of the project.

Despite that obvious advantage, an even more important one is the detail and visual expansion that can be applied to a design through layers.   Sometimes underestimated and ignored, even within the graphic design world, layers can make a picture pop or alter the image to transport a man from the cornfields of Kansas to the plains of the Sahara in realistic fashion.  By applying several different effects and using different levels of opacity, an otherwise bland image can be transformed into a print advertisement that you have envied for your own business.

It is important to remember that eye candy isn’t everything.  A powerful image is nothing if it is not sending a powerful message.  Relevance and communication come first, then the amazing designs!