Filling new layers with a neutral color
You can’t apply certain
filters (such as the Lighting Effects filter) to layers with no pixels.
Selecting Fill With (Mode)-Neutral Color in the New Layer dialog
box resolves this problem by first filling the layer with a preset,
neutral color. This invisible, neutral color is assigned according
to the layer’s blending mode. If no effect is applied, filling with
a neutral color has no effect on the remaining layers. The Fill
With Neutral Color option is not available for layers that use the
Normal, Dissolve, Hard Mix, Hue, Saturation, Color, or Luminosity
modes.