How do you work on a layer in photoshop?

I'm trying to work on a layer in photoshop as to not change the original picture. The layer always comes up as a gray and white checkerboard. This doesn't allow me to work on it saying that the ';active layer is empty';. How can I use adjustments on this layer? I'm incredibly new to Photoshop!How do you work on a layer in photoshop?
for working layer in photoshop here a good tutorial for layer


go no 4 to see full layer tutorial


http://www.photoshopwebsite.com/photoshop-tutorials/50-basic-photoshop-tutorials-for-beginners/How do you work on a layer in photoshop?
If u create a new file, the background will be gray and white checkerboard until when u create u choose white as the background. when u click on File%26gt;New the box that is displayed will allow u to choose the background. the gray and white means that it is transparent and if u havent pasted any picture on that it means that its empty.





why dont u keep the original picture and just copy it giving it another name. u can then use the copied one to work on. open it in photoshop and apply ur changes