Layers page 2   

Understanding Layers in PSP - a Basic Guide for Beginners - Part 1 (Page 2)

4.  OK, now let's get down to work :)

Click on the New Raster Layer icon:  This will bring up a dialogue box (which is the Layer Properties box, shown to the left). Don't worry about anything else that's there for the time being, just click on 'OK'. This will create a new layer, right on top of your background on the palette (see below). Did you notice that PSP has now highlighted the new layer instead of the background? That's because it assumes you want to work on the new layer straight away.

This is what the layers palette should now look like:

 



5.  Let's play around some more with the palette itself. Click on the New Raster Layer icon again to create another new layer:   

You'll now see a third layer appear at the top which PSP will automatically name "Raster 2" (see below). If you didn't notice before, when we created the first layer PSP named it "Raster 1". Just two things you need to know here. First of all, layers can be given names (anything you like, for insance 'tube' for a layer with a tube on it, and so on). Strictly speaking, it's not really necessary to do this, but as you get more accustomed to working with layers you may prefer to do this so you can find a particular layer quickly. However if you don't give a layer a name, PSP will automatically label it for you. It does it in numerical order, such as 'Raster 1', 'Raster 2' and so on.

The second thing I should point out is, did you notice that PSP has named the 3rd layer, "Raster 2"? Confusing huh?! I hear you, shouldn't PSP be calling that layer Raster 3? Well, strictly speaking......no. Let me explain. In PSP terminology, the Background 'layer' isn't really a layer at all, it is the background. It is distinct from all the other layers.

Remember our stack of windows and the grassy (back)ground below? Think of the layers palette Background like that. The grass on the solid ground can't be moved and the Background on the PSP layers palette can't be moved either. The Background (or canvas, if you like) can't be moved because it must provide a base for everything else that goes on top of it........I hope that all made sense. Every other layer can be moved on the layers palette -- except for the Background. And that's what makes it distinct from the layers that sit on top of it.



6.  OK, so back to our palette again. You should have a palette that looks like the one above (minus the image of course :). We have a background, and two layers sitting on top of it, called 'Raster 1' and 'Raster 2'. Do you remember earlier when I said that you could check out the content of a particular layer without leaving the layer you're working on? All you have to do is run your mouse over another layer on the list, without clicking on it.

'Raster 2' should still be highlighted, because we've just created it and haven't moved off this layer yet. To check out what's on the layer beneath (Raster 1) run your mouse over it...a little pop-up appears labelled 'Raster 1' with a checkerboard on it (see above). The checkerboard in PSP always means transparency. If an image (or part of an image) is transparent - you'll see the checkerboard pattern. 'Raster 1' is transparent because we haven't done anything on that layer yet, so that's why we're seeing the checkerboard pattern. Click on the 'Raster 1' layer on the palette to select it. Now you'll see that this layer is highlighted by PSP. We're now ready to add something to this layer.

7.  Click on the flood-fill tool  to fill this layer with whatever color (pattern, gradient etc.) you already have on your materials palette. Now go back to the layers palette, and without leaving the layer we're on (Raster 1) run your mouse over the 'Raster 2' layer. Nothin' huh, except for the checkerboard. Now go back to 'Raster 1' again and see the difference - the thumbnail will now show you the color or pattern you flood-filled that layer with. So what happens now? Uh-oh, we've actually started doing something with our layers, so I guess we'd better start putting them in order :)




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