Layers

[KalaMarie]

Ok guys. Before you tell me to *google it*: Any recommendations on a step-by-step way to learn how to do layers that you've had success with?

I bought The Missing Manual for PSE 7 and also attempted doing the PSE tutorial on-line, but seriously, I was almost pulling my hair out at the end.

 

[battletone]

Ok guys. Before you tell me to *google it*: Any recommendations on a step-by-step way to learn how to do layers that you've had success with?

I bought The Missing Manual for PSE 7 and also attempted doing the PSE tutorial on-line, but seriously, I was almost pulling my hair out at the end.

YouTube it. Its so much easier to understand everything Photoshop when you watch it. That or check out PhotoshopUserTV. ..but I have never used Elements.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Trial and error.

 

[KmH]

Can take an long time and almost guarantee's many nuances will never be realized, much less understood.

Get this book by a Photoshop expert; Amazon.com: Layers: The Complete Guide to Photoshop's Most Powerful Feature (9780321534163): Matt Kloskowski: Books

And there are others: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Photoshop+layers

 

[EhJsNe]

right click on the layer, duplicate layer.(In CS4 any edit you do, it automaticly adds a new layer) Do one thing to that layer. If you dont want the something to affect a certain part, add a layer mask. (in CS4 just click on masks, click on the pixel mask, then use a black brush to draw over what you DONT want affected. If you make a mistake, color it white, it will reapply the affect)
When your done doing the ONE thing to the layer, go back to the beginning.

I used to think they were all complex and whatnot...but after I actually did it, it was crazy how easy it was, then if I decide I didnt want to do something, I only have to delete the layer, instead of undoing EVERYTHING I had done after it.

The only thing I sue transparent layers for is if I want to add a vignette...to do so use the oval select tool to select what you want vignetted, then inverse the selection, color it black (or any other color you may want your vignette) deselect, then filters>>Blur>>Gausen Blur and blur it to whatever looks good to you (I usually use a very high pixel radius)
If the vignette is to dark...you can lower the layer opacity.

Im sure there is a LOT easier method of doing this, But I just got CS4 the other day and Im still in GIMP mode

Youtube and google are nifty things to use for more info.