Bloody layers... - DPChallenge Forums

07/02/2009 04:14:27 AM · #1

Hey guys,

I have a problem...

I've been using photoshop for 3-4 years now and I can do lots things with it but one thing I haven't figured out it LAYERS

I mean, i can you use layers but what I don't get is the prioritization of layers.

1-Ex:

Sometimes I have my original image and when I create a new empty layers I can clone on the empty layer and see the results as if they were on the original image. And sometimes it happens that when I create an empty layer I can't clone on it because there are "no pixels to choose from". In the case where I can clone on the empty layer, my eraser only erased the changes I've made and not the image. In the second scenario, my eraser doesn't erase my cloning history. Why does this happen? I've been working on an image for over 20 hours now and everytime I save it and reopen it, this layer setting changes. why?

2-If I want to make individual changes to an image using a layer per change, how do I make sure that every following change is dependent on the previous layer and not the original image? Can I somehow lock down the sequence of the layers?

Does anyone understand what I'm talking about???

07/02/2009 04:37:30 AM · #2

Without getting too into your specific problems i'll offer the following, though i'm no expert:

Don't create "empty" layers unless you are going to fill them with something - DUPLICATE your background, and edit the new layer that is automatically formed. After editing, you can 'erase' away any changes you have made to see your original underneath.

So from here, you can apply a curves adjustment to the whole layer, but then erase out the sections of the image you dont want the adjustment to apply to. After you do this, you can MERGE DOWN the top layer, which combines the 2 layers back into 1 again, and then DUPLICATE the background again and repeat for more adjustments.

Layers with image data STACK, one on top of another, when in NORMAL blending mode. So only the top most Background duplicate will be visible, except for what you erase away to show the layers underneath. Adjustment layers (layers with NO IMAGE DATA) do not stack, and are always visible.

Finally, use the opacity settings to fine tune your separate layers further on in the processing stages, and experiment with blending modes for extra effects.

Sorry if I got anything wrong or if i'm not sounding clear, it is late over here!

adam

07/02/2009 04:39:07 AM · #3

i learned a lot from this tutorial

//www.dpchallenge.com/tutorial.php?TUTORIAL_ID=55

Message edited by author 2009-07-02 04:39:29.

07/02/2009 04:43:13 AM · #4

and then here is some advanced stuff that I don't do :)

link

07/02/2009 04:52:27 AM · #5

that's good advice. thanks. but it doesn't explain the problem I've encountered and how to deal with. I would like to understand what is happening so i can control it :)

07/02/2009 04:56:33 AM · #6

to my knowledge you can't "clone" on empty layers, UNLESS you are alt+clicking on the background for your Set Point and then switching to the empty layer and it is letting you clone in?

07/02/2009 04:58:15 AM · #7

and for question 2, keep duplicating your Image layers as you move up so that subsequent changes are cumulative

07/02/2009 05:13:06 AM · #8

Originally posted by AP:

to my knowledge you can't "clone" on empty layers, UNLESS you are alt+clicking on the background for your Set Point and then switching to the empty layer and it is letting you clone in?

hmmmm, maybe that's what I'm doing...I will have to check that