Photoshop Layers #1

18:54:16 [Nancy] okay. back to layers.

18:54:18 [rach] So what do I put on; this layer?

18:55:02 [Nancy] okay you would likely want to put shapes or to import an image such as a photo, but for now let's just work with shapes and the tool palette.

18:55:14 [rach] K

18:55:24 [Nancy] you have a long skinny tool palette on the left side of PS?

18:55:35 [rach] Right

18:55:49 [Nancy] it has two columns of tools?

18:55:51 [rach] Im mean Yes

18:56:06 [Nancy] the T is for text, and just under it is a little shape?

18:56:17 [rach] LOL ,,No Imeant right its on the left

18:56:19 [Nancy] probably a rectangle shape?

18:56:28 [Nancy] yes it is LOL

18:56:29 [rach] Yes

18:57:07 [Nancy] okay. once you click on the shape, the "option bar" should change along the top, just under the menus

18:57:26 [rach] It did

18:57:54 [Nancy] okay, from there you can choose which shape - rectangle, rounded rectangle, oval etc.

18:58:14 [Nancy] the color it is going to draw is the color you have set as the foreground color.

18:58:50 [rach] I see, I have a blue oval

18:59:06 [Nancy] great!!

18:59:20 [Nancy] take a look at your layer palette and see how it has now changed.

19:00:02 [Nancy] double click on the blue in the layer palette, and it should bring up a color window, and you can change the color of that shape.

19:00:04 [rach] I see it has added the oval over on the left

19:00:40 [Nancy] it has probably also changed the name of the layer.

19:01:08 [rach] Says Shape 1

19:01:32 [Nancy] yep exactly.

19:01:34 [rach] Shape 1 , RGB actually

19:02:14 [Nancy] if you want, you can right click on that layer, choose layer properties and change the layer name, for example, choose oval.

19:03:00 [Nancy] if you give them a name, it is easier later to find an exact layer to work with later on.

19:03:39 [rach] Got you. I named it Oval

19:03:41 [Nancy] you will become VERY well acquainted with the layer palette. *S*

19:04:11 [Nancy] great. now, see the little eye on the left of that layer?

19:04:17 [rach] I see. Now that is a Layer that is stored

19:04:23 [Nancy] click on it, and the oval temporarily is hidden.

19:04:23 [rach] Yes

19:05:00 [Nancy] it isn't stored yet because we didn't save the file, but if you save this it is stored just as it is.

19:05:17 [rach] OK. and it dissapeared from the comp window

19:05:27 [Nancy] okay, make a new layer

19:05:37 [Nancy] yep it isn't showing, but it still is there.

19:06:03 [Nancy] keep that first layer "hidden" for now.

19:06:09 [rach] Do I close the other window that the new one just covered?

19:06:38 [Nancy] oh oh, which one was made?

19:07:08 [Nancy] we want the original window still there.

19:07:58 [Nancy] we want to make another layer in the original image.

19:08:06 [rach] When I chose New It gave me the same window where we set it 555 wide by whatever and I clicked OK and a new Layer window opened over the empty one we were workoing in

19:08:27 [rach] So close the new one I just made?

19:08:38 [Nancy] oops. yes just close that one.

19:09:04 [rach] OK Im back with the first one

19:09:12 [Nancy] we want new layer - so in the original you can do it two ways - there is a little icon on the bottom of the layer palette, or you can go to Layer on the menu and choose new.

19:09:48 [Nancy] the icon on the bottom looks sort of like a piece of paper with the corner turned up

19:10:10 [rach] OK Found it. I have a new layer

19:10:25 [Nancy] so now you should have two layers showing.

19:10:32 [rach] It still says laye one it the work window though

19:10:38 [Nancy] on the layer palette is it above the first layer?

19:10:54 [Nancy] probably because you don't have the new layer highlighted.

19:10:58 [rach] In the pallete I do

19:11:23 [Nancy] the new layer is highlighted?

19:12:28 [Nancy] okay, you must have given your image a name of layer 1. mine says untitled LOL

19:12:32 [rach] HOld on I did something. I clicked on the 1st one and its back on ;the screen

19:13:10 [Nancy] you must have made it visible again, just click the eyeball again. and then click once on the new layer to select it.

19:13:44 [rach] I clicked on the 1st laye and the oval come up . When I highlite the new layer the oval does not go away

19:14:17 [Nancy] because when you click on a layer in the layer palette, it becomes visible again. so just do the eyeball again to hide it.

19:14:32 [rach] OK . That was it. When you bring it back up You have tohit the eve again too hide it

19:15:12 [Nancy] yep. I guess PS figures you want to work with that layer, so it automatically unhides it for you. silly PS

19:15:35 [rach] OK I'm selecting the new layer in the pallete ( highlighting It)

19:15:41 [Nancy] okay, so now we have two layers, with the first (lower) one hidden and the second one selected?

19:15:45 [Nancy] great.

19:16:11 [Nancy] okay now I want you to go back to the tools palette on the left of the screen change the foreground color to red.

19:16:35 [rach] It says in the top of the window. UNtitled -1 66.7% (layer 1, RGB) Is that right?

19:16:43 [Nancy] next, I want you to again choose the shapes tool. and choose a shape different than the oval.

19:16:54 [Nancy] yep sounds right to me.

19:17:08 [Nancy] what screen size/resolution is your monitor?

19:18:13 [rach] OK I have set it red and picked a rectangle. 17" screen

19:18:19 [Nancy] time out - are you having to jump between different chairs and computers?

19:18:58 [rach] No, they are both right in front of me. Im just slow I guess

19:19:13 [Nancy] okay draw on layer two and make a new shape on that layer.

19:19:31 [Nancy] no, I just pictured you have to jump all around LOL.

19:19:43 [rach] Have a red rect. now

19:19:58 [Nancy] okay click the eyeball for layer one and make it show again.

19:20:31 [Nancy] see how you have the rectangle "overlaying" on top of the oval?

19:20:43 [rach] I did. Guess its hidden behind the red rectangle

19:20:55 [Nancy] aaahhhaaaa

19:21:52 [rach] How do I bring the smaller Oval to front?

19:21:56 [Nancy] okay time for a new tool -- top right of the tools - chooce the multi-arrow cross looking thing for one of the layers and move the object. did you draw them as big as the image?

19:22:56 [Nancy] great question - on the layers palette, click and hold that layer, and drag it up, and then release the mouse.

19:23:18 [Nancy] the layers should have switched places in the layers palette

19:23:32 [rach] No , I can now move the red rectangle up to reveal the blue oval but I made the rect too large . can I change the size?

19:23:39 [Nancy] by the way, I charge $35/hour for this. LOL

19:24:04 [Nancy] yep you sure can change the size. isn't PS just great!

19:24:12 [rach] Its worth it. Bill me.

19:24:26 [Nancy] LOL I was just kidding.

19:24:44 [rach] I will pay in oranges , Grapefruit, Alligator meat.Let me know

19:24:50 [Nancy] okay changing the size - be sure you have the rectangle layer highlighted in the layers palette.

19:25:07 [rach] It is

19:25:24 [Nancy] hold on a minute - phone

19:31:10 [Nancy] okay back

19:31:31 [Nancy] sorry about that - my daughter is trying to publish a web site - needed mom's advice LOL

19:32:05 [Nancy] let me know when you're ready to resize that layer.

19:32:11 [rach] We will quit when you like

19:32:18 [rach] Ready

19:32:57 [Nancy] okay there are two ways that I know of - I'll give you an explanation of both, and you can try either.

19:33:16 [rach] OK

19:33:39 [Nancy] first, be sure the layer is selected, then go to Edit>Transform. in the popout menu choose scale. this brings up the option bar along the top again....

19:34:25 [rach] Had '

19:34:35 [rach] transform path

19:34:47 [rach] yes new bar

19:34:50 [Nancy] I ususally choose the little link icon between width and height. these keeps the same size ratio. then I change just the width to like 80%. it changes the height also.

19:35:02 [Nancy] yes that's it. forgot it says path also.

19:36:02 [Nancy] the other way is to choose Edit>Free Transform, and you get little corner boxes on the shape to drag it smaller. I am just not a dragger, so I usually do the other way.

19:36:05 [rach] use the Percent?

19:36:52 [Nancy] I usually use the percent. I usually know just aobut how much smaller I want it. you may find using percents not your cup of tea though.

19:37:24 [rach] Other way?

19:38:08 [Nancy] if your computer beeps at you, you'll need to click on either the checkmark or the X on the right of the option bar - checkmark to go ahead and execute, or X to cancel.

19:38:47 [Nancy] I just tried - seems it is only percent with the transfrom path - dragging might be better if you're just testing. I think the shift key while dragging keeps the same ratio.

19:39:09 [Nancy] 1. Transform Path - or 2. Free Transform.

19:39:28 [rach] It worked fine.

19:39:46 [Nancy] with the Transform Path, you can choose scale or distort etc, which you can do with Free Transform also.

19:39:54 [rach] Like the free transform better

19:40:09 [rach] Yep. see that

19:40:12 [Nancy] most people do, I'm just the oddball LOL

19:41:04 [rach] Now here comes the crucial part. Can I save these layers, Then Import into Pro without getting that message?

19:41:07 [Nancy] at this point, if I were doing this, I would save the image. I would save as.. and choose the location and file name. I'm a constant saver - too many times of computer crashes and losing work. LOL

19:42:07 [rach] Also , If I had used a still picture here as background would it export with the shapes?

19:42:18 [Nancy] yes exactly. once it is saved, you can open Premiere, open the title part, right click and choose insert logo, and browse to the file you just made.

19:42:47 [Nancy] yes it would - the picture would save if it is a layer in your image.

19:43:35 [Nancy] now there is one thing I always do - I keep the very bottom layer of a PS image as an empty transparent layer.

19:43:36 [rach] I just saved as, Did it save just the one layer highlighted?

19:44:03 [Nancy] you can just click on the icon on the layer palette, drag that layer to the bottom, and save the image.

19:44:22 [Nancy] nope if you saved it as a .psd image, it saved all the layers.

19:45:02 [rach] What Icon?

19:45:07 [Nancy] two other things you should know before you are off to make titles.

19:45:23 [Nancy] the new layer icon on the bottom of the layers palette.

19:46:10 [rach] Mine must be different . I dont se that.

19:46:20 [rach] It has six things there

19:46:36 [Nancy] okay, then on the menu Layer>New

19:47:35 [rach] OK I just saved it to a file as PSD

19:47:55 [Nancy] what icons do you see there: a little slanty F; a circle; a folder, a half moon looking thing; the paper looking thing and a trash can?

19:49:20 [rach] Slanty F; circle in a box ; folder; circle half light half dark; little squrare with something in corner and trash

19:49:51 [Nancy] okay exactly. the little square with the corner thingy is the new layer icon.

19:50:18 [rach] And that will save

19:50:27 [Nancy] the slanty F is for the layer styles - where you go to add drop shadows, or a color overlay etc.

19:50:50 [Nancy] it makes a new layer, but you have to resave your image to save the layer.

19:51:05 [rach] Got it

19:51:16 [Nancy] okay two things for you. important to remember these.

19:51:30 [rach] ok

19:51:40 [Nancy] 1. shapes are vector layers - you can NOT add any effects from the menu on top.

19:51:55 [rach] OK

19:52:05 [Nancy] effects can only be added to rastor layers.

19:52:37 [Nancy] if you want to make a rectangle with an effect, such as texture, you have to use the marquee tool, and flood fill it.

19:52:43 [rach] Ok Ill read again to see what rasters are.

19:53:15 [rach] Ok I understand that.

19:53:35 [Nancy] OR, you can highlight a layer, go to Layer>rastorize shape.

19:54:01 [rach] I see.

19:54:02 [Nancy] if you bring in a photo, it is rastor/er hmm not sure on spelling LOL

19:54:20 [rach] Then is viable for effects

19:54:34 [Nancy] exactly!

19:54:45 [rach] Its already rastorized so to speak

19:54:52 [Nancy] no wonder you were a Lt. you catch on quick! *S*

19:55:04 [rach] The photo that is

19:55:09 [Nancy] yes exactly.

19:55:20 [Nancy] okay, one last thing.

19:55:21 [rach] Breathed to much smoke I think

19:55:29 [Nancy] LOL

19:56:00 [Nancy] if you want to make a current image, such as a photo, part of your title, here's how to do it.

19:56:25 [rach] OK

19:56:26 [Nancy] make a new image like we did already. Then open your photo, so you'll have two images open at the same time.

19:56:51 [Nancy] hae them side by side on your screen if you can.

19:57:14 [Nancy] be sure you have the photo selected as the image you are working on.

19:58:04 [Nancy] then, on the layer palette for the photo, which should only have one layer, drag the layer over onto the new empty image.

19:58:45 [Nancy] it now becomes a layer in your new image.

19:59:09 [rach] Not wanting to drag over

19:59:19 [Nancy] close the photo image, as it keep the original safe for you. and you can work on the new image.

19:59:35 [Nancy] be sure you drag from the layer palette, NOT from the iamge itself.

19:59:51 [Nancy] drag from the layer palette, to the second image.

20:00:33 [rach] The photo image is not in the layer pallet

20:00:40 [Nancy] don't drag from one image to the other.

20:00:57 [Nancy] the photo image has it's own layer structure. probably just one layer.

20:01:42 [Nancy] the layer palette shows the layers for whichever image you are working on. to select the photo image, click on the title bar for that image.

20:02:17 [Nancy] then go to the layers palette and drag that one layer, probably says background, to the new image.

20:02:59 [rach] It opens in the pallet then but the others dissapear. Do you mean drag from one in the pallete to another in ;the pallet

20:03:20 [Nancy] that's okay if the other disappear.

20:03:58 [Nancy] drag from one layer palette, to the other actual image.

20:03:58 [rach] Ok I see. I dragged from the pallet to the open image

20:04:09 [Nancy] yep. great!

20:04:20 [rach] It worked. The photo is over the other background

20:04:25 [Nancy] see how it made a new layer in the second image?

20:04:43 [rach] Yes

20:04:50 [Nancy] okay. now you can close the photo image, and drag that photo layer wherever you want in the stack.

20:05:12 [Nancy] okay, one last thing.

20:05:30 [Nancy] you still see 66.67% in the title bar of the image?

20:05:35 [rach] Ok

20:05:43 [rach] Yep

20:06:00 [Nancy] we're going to work with the navigation palette. is it open on your screen?

20:06:21 [rach] Yes

20:06:44 [Nancy] okay good. hold on and let me look at PS a second.

20:07:48 [Nancy] the navigation palette shows a small thumbnail of your image. underneath it show a % of what size you are working at. you can use the slider, or the little arrow icons to change it.

20:08:17 [Nancy] right now, you are not seeing the image at full size. only at 66%

20:08:45 [Nancy] if the thumbnail shows a red box, you can drag it around to see more of your image.

20:08:46 [rach] I see. I changed it to 100

20:09:02 [Nancy] great!

20:09:19 [rach] I guess you zoom in to work on finer details

20:09:39 [Nancy] for some tools, you'll sometimes want to make it a large percent - to zoom into one little area. such as when using the eraser tool.

20:09:56 [Nancy] yep exactly.

20:10:28 [Nancy] for some things I might use 800% even. not often, but when I am cleaning up an image.

20:10:31 [rach] Yep. I have used this many times to touchup photos and such. But never touched the layer part that you have covered with me

20:11:00 [Nancy] great!

20:11:06 [rach] Thanks a bunch for you time . I love this realtime interactive help.

20:11:09 [Nancy] learn to love those layers!! *S*

20:11:25 [Nancy] keep things on a different layer, and they are easier to change later.

20:12:15 [Nancy] it certainly is nice isn't it - I have enjoyed this also. and you can send a crate of oranges and grapefruit - we have 10 degrees and 6 inches of snow. nothing fresh around here. *S*

20:12:26 [rach] Now thats 2 hrs. I can send you 4 bushels of oranges or 3 bush tangerines. 5lbs alligator meat or 100 lbs of spanish moss?

20:12:46 [Nancy] hmmm interesting choices *S*

20:13:21 [Nancy] nope - you just pass along the goodwill to someone else when you have a chance.