Working with layers in photoshop is the best one can do to achieve the best in renders, if anyone has questions or inquiries feel free to hit me up, I work in multiple layers even up to 50 at a time.

Also you can cut corners with layers, and get the best from your render and look and feel that you are achieving.

The attached render, I had used 48 layers, saving after each completed layer.

One best technique is to make sure you have a plan, as layers can sometimes be frustrating, work with a group, for example if you are creating a pipe, you have your main image, create new layer, then drop the opacity to 50% use black and then a soft brush 3 1/4's half the size of the pipe, go along the edges and then use your blur tool.

Add another layer then use the soft brush drop diameter down to 1 draw a straight line down where the light refects, once you have that us the blur tool to lightly remove any sharp lines, each layer will not effect any other work on the go or completed, it requires patience.