Layer Styles 

Layer styles are effects that can be applied to a single layer in an image.  They also work on group layers and shape layers.  Select the layer you wish to apply a layer style on, then go to Layer ▸ Layer Style.   Or, you can click on the 'fx' button towards the bottom left corner of the tools palette.  There are a variety of options in the drop down menus to choose from.  You can start by choosing a single filter, or a preset.  You can click on the '+' button in the lower left hand corner to start adding more individual layer styles to the list.  

Adding and Removing Layer Styles

Once you have selected a layer style, you can add more styles to the same layer by clicking on the '+' button in the lower left hand corner of the layer styles palette.  To remove any layer styles, highlight that style in the list of layer styles then click the cogwheel button and select 'delete selected layer style'.  Or, you can right click on the layer style in the list in order to delete it.  Layer styles are non-destructive to your image.  You can add and subtract them easily without changing your image permanently.

To make a layer style permanent, select Layer ▸ Commit Layer Style.  

Creating, Exporting, and Importing Layer Style Presets

In order to create a layer style preset, first add all the layer styles you want included in the preset to your layer styles list.  Then click on the cogwheel and select 'save layer style'.

Name your new layer style preset and click 'save'.  The layer style combination you created will now show up in the presets list for easy use in the future.  To delete a preset, hold down the option key while clicking on the preset in the preset list.  

To export a layer style, have the layer style currently pulled up in the layer styles list.  Click on the cogwheel and select 'export layer style'.  You will be asked to name it and save it to a directory.  Share and trade your layer styles with friends!  

To import a layer style (must be .acstyle file format) just double click on the file.  Acorn will install it automatically.  

Modifying Layer Styles

Many layer styles have values you can adjust in the palette.  Below you can see that Motion Blur allows for its radius and angle to be modified.  When modifying the values, the changes can be seen on the layer in real time.  You can play around with the values, then click 'ok' once things look right.  If you need to change the values later, just return to the Layer Styles palette.  

 

Once you have applied a layer style to a layer, you will see 'fx' appearing on the right-hand side of the layer in the layers list.

Double clicking on 'fx' will re-open the layers style palette.  Right-clicking a layer with a layer style will allow you to enable or disable the layer style, or you can hold down the option key while clicking on the 'fx' to toggle its visibility.  

Remember that layer styles apply to the entire layer.  If you only want the layer style on a portion of the layer, you will need to move that portion to its own separate layer prior to applying the layer style.  

Drop Shadow Layer Style applied to the single layer in this image.  The white background and text are located in the same layer.

Drop Shadow Layer style applied to the text layer.  The white background is a separate layer therefore it does not have the drop shadow.

Examples

Here is a quick look at a few of the available layer styles in Acorn applied to a simple purple text layer.  Layer styles can be combined and modified to create an unlimited number of effects.  

Drop Shadow	Bevel without hard overlay	Bloom	Comic Effect
Pixellate	Edges	Gaussian Blur	Motion Blur