1. 1 Layer up to keep warm… A short tutorial on the usage of layers

2. 2 What are layers? Layers are multiple images on top of each others. Each image can be manipulated independently of others in the layered image. There are many different types of layers. –Background, Raster, Vector, Adjustment and Mask

3. 3 Type of layers Background Layer –Bottom layer of an image –Contains raster data but cannot display transparency. –Cannot change its order in a stack, its blend mode or its opacity. –All JPG image are considered a single background layer image.

4. 4 Type of layers Raster Layers –Raster layers are layers with raster data - or data that is composed of individual elements, called pixels, arranged in a grid, each with a specific location and color. –Photographic images are composed of raster data. –Digital cameras take pictures in raster format.

5. 5 Type of layers Vector Layers –Contains only vector objects lines, curves shapes texts vector groups –Use a vector layers to create objects or text that you can easily edit.

6. 6 Type of layers Adjustment Layers –Adjustment layers are correction layers that adjust the color or tone of underlying layers. Some examples of an adjustment layer type –Brightness/Contrast- Color Balance –Hue/Saturation/Lightness- Curves –Levels- Many others... –Adjustment layers cannot be a background layer.

7. 7 Type of layers Mask Layers –Mask layers show or hide portions of underlying layers. –Mask layers are really an adjustment layer that modifies opacity. –Can create sophisticated effects such as collages.

8. 8 Sample usage of Layers Preserve the original image before making changes. –Just duplicate the background layer. –Turn off the visibility of the background layer. –Make only changes to the duplicated layer.

9. 9 Sample usage of Layers Make color and tonal corrections –Use adjustment layers –This preserve the original image from being modified. –Adjustment layers can be turned on and off to differentiate the adjustment from the original.

10. 10 Sample usage of Layers Add text or graphics –Add them as vector objects to a new vector layer. –Can be easily modified. –If they are added to a raster layer, they become part of the image and can be hard to modify.

11. 11 Sample usage of Layers Create a photo collage –Place each photograph on a different layer. –Use the layer’s opacity setting and blend mode to control how much of each layer shows through. –Use mask to hide parts of a layer or create soft edges around a layer.

12. 12 Part I: Simple Adjustment Layer Sample Tutorial

13. 13 Part I: Open up image to process

14. 14 Part I: Insert new levels adjustment layer

15. 15 Part I: Experiment with the levels setting... Toggle the eyes. Play with the transparency (opacity) slider.

16. 16 Part II: Blending two images automatically

17. 17 Part II: First open the two images. 2. Then make a copy of the bird image and paste it onto the background as a new raster layer.

18. 18 Part II: Experiment with the transparency slider Bird Transparency at 100%Bird Transparency at 50%Bird Transparency at 10%

19. 19 Part II: Experiment with the blending type Blending type: DarkenBlending type: LightenBlending type: Hue

20. 20 Part III: Using Mask Layers to make collages

21. 21 Part III: First select an image as a background layer. 2. Then open up the first image and copy it into the background image as a new raster layer. See Part II for the steps. Use the directional arrow to move the new raster image around. Move the new raster layer to the desired location.

22. 22 Part III: Create a mask sub-layer to the raster layer. Click on the Mask button denoted by the arrow on the layers window to the lower left.

23. 23 Part III: Set up the tools for masking. 1. Mask automatically turns the palette to 256 shades of gray. Make sure the darkest point is black and the lightest point is white. 3. Set airbrush size to 30 and opacity to 100. 2. Select the airbrush tool from the tools menu bar on the left.

24. 24 Part III: Now paint away the unwanted portion of the image. Slowly airbrush away the portion of the image you do not want. Change the brush size on the airbrush toolbar when you want to fine tune the masking. If you make a mistake, just use the other mouse button to restore what you brushed out... From time to time, hover the mouse over the mask layer to see the area where the raster image was masked.

25. 25 Part III: Once you are done with the mask, you can move it around the background image to reposition it.. Use the move tool to move the mask around to the desired location.

26. 26 Part III: Open the next image, copy it and paste into the main image as a new layer. Our layer should have three images now. The background, the raster layer 1 and now the raster layer 2. To make it easier to remember, you can name your layers. As always, you can use the mover tool to move the new raster layer to the desired location before processing it.

27. 27 Part III: To make this layer a little different, lets resize the layer before we convert it into a mask. Ignore the pixel width and height, resize to the dimensions only. NOTE: Uncheck “Resize all layers”.

28. 28 Part III: Repeat the steps in page 22 through 25 for this image and all other images. Continue to work on the remaining images... To make it less confusing when masking a layer, turn the visibility of the other layers off by clicking on the “eye” visibility icon. A red “X” on an eye means that layer is invisible. To return visibility, click on the “eye” again.

29. 29 Part III: The complete collage

30. 30 Questions?