Layers - DPChallenge Forums

01/14/2005 07:46:11 PM · #26

Originally posted by jpochard:

Originally posted by TechnoShroom:
You open an image not a new blank document.

But I did open an image. I opened the file first, then did what "Bear-Music said and went to "Layers" "New" "Layer from Background" It gave me the window that said this layer is "0".

sheesh.

But if you opened an image instead of a blank document you shouldn't be seeing the grey and white checkerboard. You'd be seeing whatever image you opened. The only thing the first step in his instructions does is to change the original layer from the background to an editable layer (layer 0).

EDIT: OK, I misread what you're saying.... After you do that first step drag Layer 0 on to the "Create New Layer" icon. It's next to the trashcan in the layers palette.

Message edited by author 2005-01-14 19:49:44.

01/14/2005 07:49:56 PM · #27

Thanks but I'm giving up for the night. It's not working. Thanks for trying! :)

01/14/2005 07:54:37 PM · #28

okay..when I saw your edit I thought I'd try again. Open file. Create layer "0" , clicked on "layers" on the right side tab thingy to open up the "palette"

Then...when I go back to click on the the image to drag layer "0" over to the icon, the palette closes and goes away. How can I click on the image and drag it over there when the "dock" or whatever keeps going away?

01/14/2005 07:54:59 PM · #29

Ya know if this was chat instead of a message board we could have had this straightened out in 2 minutes. lol

01/14/2005 07:56:24 PM · #30

Don't drag the image drag Layer 0 in the palette.

01/14/2005 07:59:22 PM · #31

I thought the image WAS layer "0" ...that's what it says in the blue bar heading over the image?

Okay..I open image, click "layer" "new" "layer from background"
I get the window that says it will be "layer "0"....what do I do with that window? The name of the layer is highlighted, but I haven't been doing anything with it, just clicking on "ok". Then, the bar above the image says it is layer "0".

Sorry to be such a stooge!

01/14/2005 08:00:40 PM · #32

Hey...I did it!

01/14/2005 08:01:45 PM · #33

I had to drag the little thumbnail version which was in the palette area? My goodness. I'm feeling accomplished already.

01/14/2005 08:01:58 PM · #34

Originally posted by jpochard:

You don't need to do anything with it. It is just an option to rename. Clicking ok is perfectly fine. The bar above the image is just telling you the name of the layer you are working on. If you look in your layers palatte you'll see a layer 0. Drag that to the create new layer icon. That will create an exact duplicate of the layer and place it on top of the layer you were working on.

01/14/2005 08:02:30 PM · #35

Originally posted by jpochard:

I had to drag the little thumbnail version which was in the palette area? My goodness. I'm feeling accomplished already.

Exactly, you go girl.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

01/14/2005 08:20:15 PM · #36

Okay...so I have the layers and I can fool around with adjusting them as I want.

Say I have a final image that looks good, I still have all 4 or 5 layers in the palette. How do I save the image and/or the layers so that I can reopen later and work on the separate layers?

Konador

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

01/14/2005 08:21:51 PM · #37

Save as a PSD and they will all remain. Also, if you save as TIFF I think it will ask you if you want to keep layers. Bear in mind that file sizes will be pretty large, specially for a TIFF.

01/14/2005 08:22:23 PM · #38

Originally posted by jpochard:

Save it in Photoshop's native format .psd. File>Save As. This will preserve all the layers. If you choose another format like jpg, gif, etc you will lose the layers.

Message edited by author 2005-01-14 20:23:07.

Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra

01/14/2005 08:31:36 PM · #39

Man..I wish I had some of those smilies! I did it! I closed out PS and reopened and everything was there! Thank you guys so very much. Maybe we should move this whole thread to the tutorials! LOL

Here's my final product, just a quick and messy trial to see what worked. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

Bear_Music

Sony 24-70mm f/4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

01/14/2005 08:54:09 PM · #40

Yee haw! You go girl. I was awol throughout that whole process...

Next step is to use layers for routine editing. Wave a flag when you are ready for this.

Robt.

David Ey

Nikon D80

Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f2.8D

01/14/2005 09:22:24 PM · #41

What a nice group of people. Thanks from us dummies.

ClubJuggle

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

01/15/2005 09:20:47 AM · #42

Since this rant seems to have gone wildly off-topic and turned useful, I've moved it from Rant to Q&A.

-Terry

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

01/15/2005 10:15:41 AM · #43

Originally posted by ClubJuggle:

Since this rant seems to have gone wildly off-topic and turned useful, I've moved it from Rant to Q&A.

-Terry

LOL, now there's a first!

soup

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

01/15/2005 10:32:17 AM · #44

it might be worth mentioning - this method of using layers isn't allowed in the basic editing challenges. you are not allowed to create a new layer, or duplicate an existing one - unless they are adjustment layers.

it's also easier to duplicate the initial layer a couple times right off, rather than dragging and dropping one from another after creating blank layers. never edit the initial 'background' layer - as this is your original off cmaera file, and if you screw it up - you'll have to close the file, and re-open it - barring you haven't already overwritten it.

01/15/2005 02:58:43 PM · #45

Originally posted by ClubJuggle:

Since this rant seems to have gone wildly off-topic and turned useful, I've moved it from Rant to Q&A.

-Terry

Thanks. I hope my frustration will actually help others as well. I'd like to think I'm not the only one who had problems.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

01/15/2005 10:38:04 PM · #46

Now that the basic understanding is there I have a couple more questions for you to answer at your convenience.

What is the difference (is there?) between a layer and an "adjustment layer"?

What is the easiest and/or most precise way to select items in an image for editing? I used the lasso thing and it seemed difficult to control

Thanks.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

01/16/2005 12:11:24 AM · #47

A layer contains pixels. An adjustment layer only contains the settings for the adjustment, and any selection associated with it.

The most precise way of making a selection is by using a mask -- essentially a separate grayscale channel -- where you can use all the painting and drawing tools to tweak the selection.

01/16/2005 12:15:18 AM · #48

Originally posted by jpochard:

An adjustment layer is just a specific type of layer. You'll find you will use them most often. They control specific editing functions. Much easier than copying parts of your image and applying hard adjustments which you cannot easily go back and change.

There are so many different ways of selecting things it's hard to say which one is easiest or most precise. It all depends on what you're trying to select. I think I most often use the paintbrush (via quick mask or regular masks) and the magic wand to select things in photos. Really though it entirely depends on what you're trying to accomplish. You can always use a number of tools. If one tool gets you 80% of what you want selected you can always come back with another tool to get the rest.

EDIT: Yeah, what he said.

Message edited by author 2005-01-16 00:16:37.

01/16/2005 12:21:25 AM · #49

Okay..being ignorant again. I don't "get" adjustment layers at all. Can you give me an example? Is it simply a layer where you apply the edit to the whole layer vs. selecting specific sections? For instance an entire image "layer" for contrast tweaking, another layer for saturation etc for the entire image?