Layer Menu

Don't let Layers scare you. So you don't understand what layers are? Here is how I explain Layers to folks who haven't a clue. Imagine this and follow along with me. We are in school in an art class and the teacher gives us a tablet to draw on. This tablet is made up of several pages of see through paper. On the bottom page I draw something that is going to be at the backside of my image... imagine depth... if you look out across your yard what is the farthest thing you see? Clouds? Ok... On the bottom sheet (layer) I draw some clouds and sky and a sun. On the next layer up from the bottom I draw a tree thats far away in the background. On the next layer up I draw a stream just cuz I want one in the scene. Next layer up I draw a house, and the next layer up, I put flowers in front of the house and maybe a bush. With each thing on its own layer, I can move them about without disturbing the other sheets (layers) I can erase that bad stream I drew and redo it or remove it, or hide it. I can edit each sheet (layer) and it doesn't effect the other sheets (layers) I drew on. Now I have decided I wanted my sun on the other side. Darn its on the bottom layer the 1st sheet (layer) I go to the first sheet and erase my sun and fill the area with clouds. Now I will add a new sheet (raster Layer) which will be just above the layer I edited and paint my sun. Now I can move my sun anywhere I want without disturbing the other layers. Simple enough huh? When I create, I place each item on its own layer so its easy to edit, delete, redraw, repaint do what I want with it without messing up the rest of my work. Thats Layers.

Raster and Vector formats are Copied from the Help files

Raster File Formats

A Raster image is composed of units of light, called pixels, which are laid out on a grid. If you increase the magnification of an image, you can see these pixels. They appear as squares in the screen. A Raster program creates objects by grouping pixels. An object is stored as a group of pixels with information about each pixel color. Pixels can be blended to create soft edges and smooth transitions between objects. This makes the format a good choice to use for saving photographs.

An image in the Raster format is resolution-dependent. You specify the resolution and pixel dimensions when you create the image. If you later decide to increase its size, you enlarge each pixel, which lowers the image quality.

Vector File Formats

A Vector image is composed of mathematical instructions for drawing the image. Each object in a Vector image is stored as a separate item with information about its relative position in the image, its starting and ending points, width, color, and curve information. This makes them suitable for logos, fonts, and line drawings. An image in the Vector format is resolution-independent. It can be resized without losing detail because it is stored as a set of instructions, not a collection of pixels. Each time you display an image, you recreate it.

Note that a computer monitor uses pixels to display an image, and most printers convert pixels to ink dots. Vector images are rasterized (created using pixels) when displayed on the screen or printed. When you close them, they are saved in the Vector format.

Most all you work with will be a Raster Layer. Text, lines and shapes are vector. We will be doing lots of vector via my tutorials.

For an indepth knowledge view the help files that come with the program.

 

Duplicate

Duplicating a layer is very useful in much of your work. Great use for creating animations. When you click Layers/Duplicate it will create an exact copy of the active layer and make the duplicate the active layer. This is great if you want to try something and not mess up the first one, you will have the one you had plus the copy to fool around with. There are many other uses of a duplicate layer. I often duplicate the layer to add shadows and I can erase part of it and not worry about erasing the image parts for an exact one will show through below (my original) Example: I have an image I want to use in a stationery. A line across the backside so I can add color ontop and pattern below... I only want the shadow on the upper part. When I duplicate the layer, it is an exact copy and located in the exact same place on the canvas. I can float it, use filters, shadows etc. then erase the part I don't want. The original layer will show through the erased parts.

Another example I use this for is during the process of creating an animation. An easy Example: A simple animation of changing colors. I have an image on a layer and duplicate it and change the color... now I have two... Save that as a psp file format and open it in Animation Shop and you have an animation.

Another example is: Following from the above, lets say I want to add a background to it for my final animation. I create a new layer and send it to the bottom and fill it with my background color. I duplicate it as many times as I have layers that need a background. I hide all layers via the layer palette. Now I unhide one of the duplicated background and one of the image and the image layer needs to be above the background of course. Merge the two layers. Now those two layers are one layer. Hide it and unhide another background layer and another of your image and merg those two etc etc until your finished adding backgrounds to your layers. Extra background layers? Delete it...

Delete= removing, getting rid of a layer.

Properties= gives you information about the layer..

Matting= You can remove elements of the active layer.

Arrange= placement of the active layer

View= Select what you want to view. All layers, active layer only, etc etc

Merge= I always use Merge Visible. This leaves transparent areas transparent. If you merge all it flattens it and gives a white background.

Convert to Raster Layer= Choose this option to convert a Vector Layer to a Raster Layer.

Promote to Raster Layer= Often when you open an image it is denoted as a background layer. These cannot be moved and erasing on them leaves a different color. These need to be promoted to a Raster Layer for editing.

And at the bottom you see my layers. The check mark shows the active layer. You can click one of the layers to switch the active layer. Note: I do this via the Layer Palette (rollup) another toolbar which I have open at all times. I always have my layer palette and my tool palette open.

 

This Tutorial is text and images are Copyright to CherokeeCandy