Filling layer with 50% gray

[shanwick]

Hi everyone

I notice that in some of the tutorials a new layer is created and filled with 50% gray before anything else is done. I'd be very grateful if someone could explain to me the reason for doing this rather than just using the layer as it is created.

Many thanks for any help and advice.

David

[Wendy]

Hi David ...

... and welcome to the forum :)

50% gray works well when it comes to blending modes ... so sometimes it is used as a technique within a tutorial.

Try this:

Open any photograph
Then create a new layer above it and fill it with 50% gray
Now go to your layers palette and experiment with the blending modes of the gray layer ...

... :eek:

Wendy

[shanwick]

Hi Wendy

Thank you for the welcome - yes, my first post here although I also belong to NAAP even though I am a hobbyist and not a professional !!

Thank you also for explaining the gray layer technique.

David

PS - just looked at your websites. What lovely work - just wish I had that artistic talent myself.

[Wendy]

Hi David ...

Thank you for the compliment ... :)

Have you subscribed to this site too? ... if you have then just look in the Subscriber Area>Tutorials and you will find the tutorials I have done ... some of the images in my gallery are done using techniques from the tuts.

I'm a member of NAPP too ... but tend to spend most of my time here. :)

Wendy

[Cmcburnett]

David, welcome to the forum. I agree with you, Wendy definately has the artistic touch.:o