help me please i am and idiot

[MICHAEL2334]

hello everyone! new to this and trying to create several layers of one file so i can play with back ground and subject seperately. have no clue what i am doing. any quick advice? thanks

[kimi_boo]

Try Control J to make more copies and play with your copies. Make sure you rename the one on the bottom as you original. Remember your top layer is the one that you will see so if you make a change on a lower layer turn the eyeball off on the ones you are not using. Was this helpful? :)

[Diana]

Hi Michael and welcome to the forum.

If you wish to play with your subject and background separately, it sound like you'll need to use one of the selections tools and select the subject and move it to its own layer. The lasso tools is a good selection tool and so is the selection brush. Once you get the "marching ants" around your subject, Ctrl-J to move it to its own layer. Then you can try different backgrounds with it on the layer below it.

Diana

[GaryK]

Hi Michael

Welcome to the forums.:)

Hard to say what you are trying to do.. check out any free tutorials here(if you are not yet a subscriber) and look around in the galleries.
There are plenty of things that can be done and layers really is/are?? the foundation of the program.
There is also an online course for around $20 here. It may be well worth your while to have a go at that.

The program can be somewhat overwhelming and most want to jump right in and play. That is a bit tough as there is a slight learning curve but look around and have some fun. There is usually someone around to help out if you get stuck.

[dummie 1]

Well, not exactly an idiot. At least you got to Layers. My 5 screen does not look -or act like tutorials! Flawed copy? or another secret to learn? Even simple suggestions on Forum can not be followed if promps can not be found!Also, when I hit file>open the same stupid window says a file I long deleted and did not call for can not be found! How do I destroy that.???????

[Diana]

Dummie1,

You just have to change your User ID...come-on, get some confidence here. It won't be long and you'll get up to speed. Are you working in Editor or Organizer? You won't see any layers in Organizer.

Diana

[Cmcburnett]

Catching onto the layers is THE hardest thing to figure out in PSE, to me anyway. Hopefully the forum and a lot of patience will guide you through. Good luck. Been there and I know is it very nerve racking.:rolleyes:

[msbrad]

Hang in there/ It does and will get better. And I am slow to catch on!

Now here's a true confession.:o
When I first started, I actually thought that since the program worked with layers, any picture placed on the screen would automatically get divided up into "the layers" . Then I decided I needed to go the menu bar and select layer >new or via copy etc. (another duh moment)

I still didn't get after that why the layers were not there.Thought the program was broken. And i thought "the layers" were: forground and background of the photo.

...And this is why I needed to take 'private lessons', prior to doing or asking anythng here.
Lots of new things do take me awhile... but...
I've come a LONG way!:D
m
(p.o.s.l.)

[Wendy]

... you certainly are not the first person to think that. Now wouldn't it be great if that really happened :) :)

Wendy

[apasskey]

...And this is why I needed to take 'private lessons', prior to doing or asking anythng here.
Lots of new things do take me awhile... but...
I've come a LONG way!:D
m
(p.o.s.l.)

This IS the place for private lessons!! You will not find a better place for one-on-one, specialized, expert, lovingly offered help.:)

[msbrad]

... you certainly are not the first person to think that. Now wouldn't it be great if that really happened :) :)

Wendy

Well Wendy, that is good news. I 'm glad not to be the only one in that dept.

I agree this is the best spot for learning, that is why I stopped those lessons. I have learned soooo much from everyone. The patience and the friendship here are the best.

However at that time, (when I thought the layers weren't working:o ) I didn't even know how to get on to ask a question, or have enough knowledge to know what to ask.
Now I just ask away and read constantly. And learn something new every day.
Today's :"new" is the quote in the little gray box...Thanks again Nick!
m