Combining Layer Styles

[TonyW]

One (of the many) things that puzzle me are Layer Styles and combining them. Inspired by Marilyn's flamingo using the Layer Style>Pattern>Blanket I got playing with combining different ones. Some will combine, some just seem to dominate over any previous or subsequently applied styles.

Is there any way of telling which layer styles can be combined or is it just a matter of trial and error :confused:

Tony

[snooze]

Tony ,I hope someone knows the answer to that. I've just been using the trail and error like you.

[Ward Grant]

Tony, some of my best Challenge entries have been made by using various layer styles. I am still mainly Trail and Error, followed closely by What If and I Wonder. Sometimes a simple blending mode change results in a totally different look. The bad part is you can get so wraped up in trying the different combinations time really gets away from you.

[Wendy]

Hi ...

Well I'll try and answer ...

Using Photoshop you can apply different effects to your images ... they are:

Drop Shadow, Inner Shadow, Outer Glow, Inner Glow, Bevel & Emboss, Satin, Colour Overlay, Gradient Overlay, Pattern Overlay and Stroke.

Each one is fully adjustable and you mix and match them to get the effect you want AND you can then save it a layer style ..

Elements doesn't have this it simply uses premade layer styles ... and if you apply a premade layer style over the top of another then the new one changes the details of the first one BUT only if it uses the same effects.

So for example you apply a premade layer style made up of a Drop shadow, a Bevel and a Gradient overlay. Then you apply another that is made up of a Drop Shadow, Inner glow and Stroke then the drop shadow in the second one will replace the drop shadow in the first one but as the other parts were not used in the first one then they will be applied. (hope that makes sense :) )

So your image will now have a layer style made up of a Drop Shadow (the new one), a Bevel, Inner Glow, Gradient and a Stroke ..

Hope this helps :)

Wendy

[TonyW]

Wendy: Thanks for the explanation. Some of the effects I've seen now makes a lot more sense. Still going to be trial and error but at least I now have a better idea of what's going on

Tony

[GaryK]

Ok then :D

Sort of along the same lines. What filters are effected by the f/g and b/g colours.
I have messed myself up more times than I care to admit using the diffuse glow with the wrong f/g, b/g colours. It still takes me 20 minutes to figure out what I did wrong. :)

[Wendy]

Gary ...

I'll have to pass on that one as I don't really use the filters :o :o

Wendy

[GaryK]

No probs Wendy. I ususally inadvertantly stumble upon them and can never figure out what the heck is going on.:D

[TonyW]

Gary: Let us know when you figure it out. I also stumble around when playing with filters and combinations of filters. Every once in a while I come up with something I really like. Problem is I can't remember how I got there - all I can remember is that I did - so it must be possible :D :eek:

Tony

[GaryK]

Tony

For sure the "diffuse glow" filter is affected byt the fg/bg colour. :D

[graficalicus]

What filters are effected by the f/g and b/g colours.

got intrigued, so i quickly checked it out and came up with this list of the standard PSE 4 filters that are affected by foreground/background colors:

Artistic > Neon Glow
Texture > Stained Glass
ALL in the Sketch category EXCEPT Chrome & Water Paper


hope that helps -

[GaryK]

Thanks Graffi ..

I'll tell you, it has messed me up more than once :D