Use of Layer Styles :
In order to use styles you must activate the style menu. You can do so from the task bar at the top of Adobe Photoshop

Activate the style menu

When you activate the drop down menu as shown on the left make sure that you select the menu option called styles. Once you have activated it you will see the following palette appear

Style menu appears

Do not be alarmed if you see your style palette docked with the swatches or color palettes. This is normal.

In order to load the styles that you have just installed click on the little arrow on the top right of the style palette

Load sytles

Once you click on that arrow you will see the all of the styles that you have available. You can just highlight any of our styles

Style listing

Once you have selected your styles - they will become available in your palette. From there applying styles will require just one click! Choose the layer with the element you want to apply the style to. Suitable elements are text, shapes, brush strokes, etc. Once click on the style of your choice and you will have the special effect!

Use of Contours
Our primary use for contours is for special effects within the Blending Options menu. In a nutshell - we use it in the section of Photoshop where we make our cool styles! To access the contour menu go to blending options from the layer palette

Loading Contours

Once you load that menu - Click once the contour option under bevel to activate the contour console

Contour Menu

Now click on the arrow to open the “loaded” contour menu.

Contour drop down

The contours that you see in the little boxes are the ones that have been loaded already. You can click on any of them to use them or you can load new ones.

Now click on the little arrow and a drop down menu will appear. Any of the new contours you installed will appear in the menu .You can just highlight one of the contours you see to load the contour. They will then be available for use in the small boxes you see.

Contour new selection

Use of Gradients
Before you can use the gradients that you have installed you must activate the gradient menu. If you canot find it - go to your launcher. The gradient menu is underneath the paint bucket. Clicking and holding down the mouse button for 2 seconds will open up the option to choose the gradient tool.

Load gradient menu

As soon as you make the selection the gradient options will appear at the top left hand side of the screen.

Gradients opened

Click on the little arrow on the right to open the listing of gradients. Once you have opened the listing highlight the gradient set you would like to use. Click on it once and it will appear in the gradient box for your use.

Gradient final selection

Use of Custom Shapes
In order to access your custom shapes you will need to access the custom shape menu. Go to your launcher, click and press the shape tool. Select the custom shape tool.

Custom shape menu open

Now that you have activated the custom shape tool Click on the black arrow to open the custom shape listing. Then highlight the shape set you would like to use and click once. Now that shape will be available to you.

Select Shape