Question regarding Layers

[cybermule]

Hi,
I am new to this forum. I am also very new to PhotoShop and Illustrator. I bought the programs because I want to design T- Shirts with designs on them

My question about layers is this: If i have a photo, or a design with say, 5 different colors in it, do I need to make a new layer for EACH color?

[zapphnath]

Actually, you don't, necessarily, ever have to use layers at all - but you should get into the habit, though. They make going back and changing things, later, a whole lot easier. After you get used to them, you'll wonder how any graphics program ever got along without them.

Edit: When it comes to t-shirts, I believe the printer might prefer having each color on it's own layer - though I don't know, for sure. M0g'll let you know when he get's back.

[cybermule]

Thank you so much for the quick reply. I do believe you are correct about the T- shirt and layers.

Now, I know I need to take a course or get a serious manual book for this, but this may or may not be a stupid question: say for instance, i have a picture of an Atom Bomb explosion, which has several different red colors in it already. Is there a way in photoshop to someone take that picture... and take each color out, and make a layer out of each color?

[zapphnath]

With Photoshop, there are usually several ways to do just about anything.
One way to do what you're asking would be to use Select > Color Range.
When the dialog opens, you can move your cursor out of the box and back into your picture. At this point, the cursor will turn into an Eyedropper. Wherever you click, in the picture, will show up in the dialog box. White is what's selected and black is what's left behind. As you slide the "Fuzziness" slider to the right, it allows your selection to encompass several shades of the color chosen. Conversely, sliding to the left lessens the amount of shades. Once you've selected the color you want, click OK to close the dialog, and you should see the "marching ants" in your picture - this is your selection. Hold Control/Command and hit J to copy the selected area to a new layer. Next, make the original picture layer active by clicking on it in the Layers Palette, and do the same process for the next color - then the next - etc..
One thing to keep in mind is to make a copy of the original layer whenever you want to apply a filter, adjust the settings, or do anything that will change the image. This way, you'll always have the original, untouched image right there at the bottom of the Layers Palette - just in case you really screw the pooch and want to start over.