Hey - can anyone help me with using layers on CS2

[TheMutzNutz]

Hey , I am just starting out and i have read a few tutorials of wich all use layers , i can follow the steps and it comes out great but i generaly dont know what layers are and why/when to use them - can anybody explain ?

[tamlin]

This is what it says in Photoshop Help:

Layers allow you to work on one element of an image without disturbing the others. Think of layers as sheets of acetate stacked one on top of the other. You can see through transparent areas of a layer to the layers below. You can change the composition of an image by changing the order and attributes of layers. In addition, special features such as adjustment layers, fill layers, and layer styles let you create sophisticated effects.

A new image in Photoshop or ImageReady has a single layer. The number of additional layers, layer effects, and layer sets you can add to an image is limited only by your computer’s memory.

Layer groups help you organize and manage layers. You can use groups to arrange your layers in a logical order and to reduce clutter in the Layers palette. You can nest groups within other groups. You can also use groups to apply attributes and masks to multiple layers simultaneously.

The only thing I would add to the above is that (unlike sheets of acetate) the effects of layers can be combined in a multitude of different ways by using layer Blending Modes to achieve all sorts of different effects.

Sorry if this answer is a bit brief, but it's a huge subject.

[synthetic]

learn to use layers effectively and it will make your job in designing much easier

I can't even imagine having to work without layers these days... once you have a complex image that consists of many different components... having different components on seperate layers will speed your editing time usually (especially if you take time to label the layers with names). Then... if you have items that overlapping and such... you can turn off layers that are on top and in your way and just work on the layer you need to make changes too... and you can lock the other layers to avoid changing things that weren't to be changed. You can also use layers to create different effects with the blending of colors and so forth.

Yep... the power of layers can get quite deep if you explore the possibilities

[Tony_photoplus]

Agree I can't imagine working without layers, essential to any work.

Tony_photoplus

[Bonekhan]

Layers are something you do not really force yourself to learn. If you are a web designer or digital artist, it will come apparent in certain situations--after much brainstorming--to use layering. Of course, layering is not the only way to do something, and so there are many work arounds; but it makes life easier.

Just experiment around: create some simple shapes, see what certain buttons'll do. I'd also recommend messing around with blending modes as well, along with opacity, patterns, gradients, masks, and other tools.

[arb]

Originally Posted by Bonekhan

Layers are something you do not really force yourself to learn. If you are a web designer or digital artist, it will come apparent in certain situations--after much brainstorming--to use layering. Of course, layering is not the only way to do something, and so there are many work arounds; but it makes life easier.

Yes, you can also walk if you can take a plane.

Ton

[alxalx]

sorry i cant help you
sorry i cant help you!!!!!!!!!

[notjustgraphics]

Originally Posted by alxalx

sorry i cant help you
sorry i cant help you!!!!!!!!!

alxalx

If you cannot add anything helpful to a thread, it is preferred that you don't post anything at all...

If you need to post just to get credits, why not stop in to the introductions forum and introduce yourself...

Please be respectful and read the Forum Rules:

No spamming: Short and meaningful, or long and rambling posts are always welcome here at the Biorust forums, but a dim view is taken of those individuals who reply to posts with a mere smilee, a couple of words, or continually repeated phrases. Trying to increase your posts number using these methods is highly frowned upon, and may result in deletion of posts and a temporary/permanent ban.

Mike.

*** EDIT: Just occurred to me that he'll likely never read this anyway

[tamlin]

Originally Posted by notjustgraphics

*** EDIT: Just occurred to me that he'll likely never read this anyway

Maybe not, but it's worth saying anyway.