PhotoShop Elements 2 Instructions

Layers

1. Today we'll start with layers. Using layers, you can make changes to different elements of your image without disturbing the others. Think of layers as sheets of transparent glass stacked one on top of the other. Where there is no image on a layer, you can see through to the layers below. Depending on how you stack and position the layers, the composition changes. You can add more layers to your image, and each layer can then be edited as a separate piece of artwork. You can also use layers to create a web animation.

Layers palette A. Layer lock options (from left to right): Transparency, All B. Show/Hide layer C. Indicates active layer D. Link/Unlink E. Layer thumbnail F. More menu G. Highlighted layer is active layer H. Locked layer I. Create a new fill or adjustment layer J. Create a new layer K. Delete a layer

The Layers palette uses icons to provide information about layers. The leftmost column in the palette displays an eye icon next to visible layers and no eye icon next to hidden layers.

The second column from the left shows a paintbrush icon or layer mask icon next to the active layer; layers without either of these icons can't be modified. It also shows a link icon for layers that are linked to the active layer.

The right column lists the layer's name and may display additional icons. By default, this column also shows a thumbnail image of the layer which is updated as you edit the layer.

2. Choose Window > Layers. Next drag the palette out of its well.

3. Open Start.psd from the K-drive.

4. Click all of the eye icons so that all of the "Start.psd" layers are visible in your document.

5. With the Start.psd file still open on your desktop, open Hats.psd. With the MOVE tool, select the three-hats layer in Hats.psd and hold down the mouse button as you drag the layer to the document window of Start.psd. Release the mouse button. Close Hats.psd. Click the three-hats layer in the Layers palette to make it active. Then select the MOVE tool and position a hat over the dummy's head.

6. With the three-hats layer active, select the eraser tool. Use the eraser tool to remove two of the hats. Again, notice that only the artwork on the active layer is affected.

7. Make the shoe layer active in the Layers palette and then click the Delete Layer icon. Click Yes to confirm that you want to delete the selected layer. Only the active layer and its artwork are removed from the file.

8. Open Basket.psd and drag the basket layer to Start.psd. Close Basket.psd. Make sure that the basket layer in Start.psd is active.

9. Choose Image > Transform > Free Transform. A bounding box with handles appears around the artwork you're modifying. To scale artwork, position the pointer over any edge of the bounding box until you see a double-headed arrow. Then hold the Shift key and drag the handle to scale the artwork to the desired size. Holding the Shift key constrains the proportions of the image as you scale it. To rotate the artwork, position the pointer outside the transformation bounding box until you see a curved double-headed arrow. Drag clockwise or counter-clockwise to rotate the artwork. Press Enter to apply the transformation changes.

10. By linking layers, you can move and transform them together, maintaining their alignment with each other. With the Pants layer active in the Layers palette, click the small box to the right of the eye icon in the shirt layer. A link icon appears in the box, indicating that the shirt layer is now linked to the pants layer. Select the move tool, position it in the image window, and drag. Notice that the artwork on the linked layers moves at the same time. To unlink a layer, click the link icon in the linked layer. The link icon disappears, and the layer is no longer linked to the active layer.

11. When you've finished editing all of the layers in your image, you can flatten the file's layers. This merges all the layers into a single background layer, greatly reducing the file size. Be aware that when you flatten an image and save it, you lose the layers. To preserve the layers, save the file with another name. To flatten a file, choose Layer > Flatten Image. To save the flattened image, choose File > Save As. In the dialog box, type a new name for your flattened file; select a file format if desired, and click Save.

A Greeting Card 1. Now, let's create a greeting card. Choose File > New. In the New dialog box, create a new document that is 8.5 inches x 5.5 inches (so you can use an 8 1/2 X 11 sheet folded in half with a greeting card envelope) with a resolution of 118 pixels per centimeter (300 dpi). Enter a name and click OK. 2. Bring in the file trees.jpg from the K-drive. Drag it from its layer to your card using the Move Tool (arrow in top right of tool bar). (Make sure the photo wasn't saved in indexed color; if so, convert using IMAGE/Mode/RGB Color.) Drag the image to fill most of the top half of the card.

3. Use the painting tools to create your background. Use the Eyedropper to select the dark gray area from the tree image. Drag down in your document with the gradient tool. Choose Layer > New > Layer and keep the layer opacity at 100%, and click OK. Click on the Gradient tool and drag it up from the bottom to a bit above the top. 4. Soften the edges of the photo. Select the eraser tool and choose a soft-edged brush. Drag the brush around the image to soften the edges and help the image blend in with the background. 5. Add text using the Text tool: There is always music amongst the trees in the garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. --M. Aumonier. Choose Tw Cen MT Condensed for the font at 30 point. Make the author's name 24 point. Using Layer Styles, highlight the text and choose Drop Shadows > Soft Edge. Add the author's name in 9-point black type (Amy Mintz). 6. Insert this image into MS Word as the bottom half of the page and print. Fold over and write on the inside bottom of the page.

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