adobe photoshop elements 5.0 layers tutorial

I build layouts from the bottom up, just as I would if I was using paper and glue rather than digital supplies. I turned the layers’ Visibility off for clarity but if you choose not to do that, no problem! That’s how I’m going to build the template too. This background layer reads to Elements like it’s completely flat, so using the Paint Bucket to fill it with a solid gray worked out. To make it easier on the eye to distinguish between paper layers, I chose a lighter gray for the second paper layer. What? Oh, the grungy paper doesn’t Fill completely and cleanly with the Paint Bucket. Clipping a paper to this could look really awful! That could be a big issue later when I go to use the template. I’m going to take you on a little detour for a second. When I was experimenting with Filling layers and Merging them to simplify things, I discovered that once the layers are Merged, the Shadow Style on the base layer becomes embedded in the image but isn’t adjustable. Adding a Shadow Style to that makes for VERY dark and odd-looking shadows. So I experimented some more and came up with this. Before I Fill the layer to create a place-holder, I Right-click on the layer and choose Copy Layer Style.

Then I Right-click on the layer again and choose Clear Layer Style. That removes the Style from the layer, but puts it in safe-keeping for later. To achieve a solid Fill on this paper, I’m going to use the Layer>New Fill Layer>Solid Color command.

(You’ll get lots of practice, and it’ll be almost automatic by the time you’re done!) Each of the place-holder layers will be created the same way. This command prompt opens up make sure Use Previous Layer to Create Clipping Mask is ticked. That tells Elements to Fill ONLY what’s on the layer under it. You can Name the layer with the type of object you’re creating a place-holder for right here. Sleep is in short supply here at the moment.) Just delete that Color Fill 1 and type in your object. Here’s what happens when you’ve clicked OK. See how it’s now a Clipped layer above the patterned paper? The Color Picker opens and the image on the workspace shows a preview of the end result. The utility of your template will be greatly enhanced by Selecting both the base layer and the Fill layer then Merging them.

Click>SHIFT>Click on the layers then Right-click and choose Merge Layers.

Adobe photoshop elements 5.0 layers tutorial