"GordonP" wrote in message
Thanks for the responses, but they don’t address what I want to know. I do understand how to create layers, but I’m looking for specific information about how I can use layers to enhance my photographs.
The books I have and the Web sites I’ve referred to have a lot of useful infomation about working with layers. None that I’ve found address the subject of using layers to enhance photographic inages.
Is there nothing more to this than creating seperate foreground and background layers then adjusting those layers and combining them? Or is there more I need to know?
GP
"GordonP" wrote in message
I’m a new user of Photoshop Elements. I’ve been reading in several books about layers, but haven’t found anything that tells me how the Layers capability can help me improve ny printed photographs. From what I’ve read, layers seeme to be something graphics designers might want to use while creating an image. I’d llike to know how a photographer can use layers to enhance an image,
GP
you are only limited by your lack of imagination
layers can do lots of things
You need an idea what you want to do first
can’t give directions if you don’t know where you want to go dude
me I use layers a lot
I dupe my backgorund and retouch on it
or can use a blank layer and set clone healer to use all layers
I use a layer to color correct all or certain areas of an image or make it lighter darker change the color completely etc you can add images letters objects shapes above the image and blend in several modes to make collages,or sandwiches
on layers you can move all these objects separately make them different transparencies
much simpler than re cutting out every part and moving about
I suggest a look at the tutorials on Adobe website in the Exchange part or Russell Brown’s vids
layers can be used to hand tint a BW pic
or the reverse make a BW or sepia from a color image
selections and layers and masks are the most important to master in PS and will give you a control over photos you never achieved in dark room you can dodge burn very selectively on a 50% gray layer on overlay mode
assuming you know how to take a decent photo in the first place and that you didn’t ask us about shooting
Joe or Joel says a lot of stuff that is not nice or right so just ignore it
I do not use elements but PS CS
I have a screenshot here that shows how to adjust each area of an image separately
by using layers and masks
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=439224275&contex t=set-72157600005475635&size=o used one layer with a selection to enhance the green
another to enhance the blue
one to fix the date
remove warm from white areas etc
the more typical usage of selections is to cutout and put other backgrounds yes
as here
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=424477678&contex t=set-72157600005475635&size=o which also has a layer of star burst light on layer between the background and subject