Question on Layer Styles

[kdmcfarlin]

I am a new PE 5.0 user. I have just completed the Online Layers Class. In class session Day 21 Bonus; Dave, using PE 4.0 creates a layer then applies the Layer Style/Inner Shadow/Hard to the layer. He then copies that layer and then modifies the second layer to move the shadow and clicks off the “use global light” selection.

Question 1: Where is or how do you perform this task in PE 5.0?

Question 2: In another layer Dave places a rectangular selection box around his subject and then demonstrates moving the selection box, to properly fit the desired selection, by holding down the space bar. How is this task performed in PE 5.0?

[Wendy]

Hi ...

... and welcome to the forum :)

When the layers class was created it was done using PSE4 which was the latest version of Elements at that time ... I don't really think that it really wouldn't be practical to go back and redo it for PSE5.

OK so lets take a look at workarounds:

Sadly Adobe removed the ability to uncheck global light in PSE5 so that means that all shadows follow the same direction .. try this as a workaround:

Create your two layers and apply the inner shadow as Matt does in the tutorial
Then go to the layers palette, click on the top layer and do Layer>Simplify Layer.
Next do Image>Rotate>Layer 180 degrees
Then change the blend mode of the top layer to multiply

That should now work OK and you will be able to continue with the tutorial

Give me a few minutes to check out the rest of the Video and I will come back to you on the second question :)

Wendy

[Wendy]

Hi ...

OK if you watch the Video closely then you willl see that he uses space bar before he releases the mouse button ... it actually only works if you have not yet released the mouse button when you drew out the rectangle tool.

If you have released it ... then make sure that you have the rectangular marquee set for "New Selection" see the top of the screen ... and then move your cursor into the centre of the selection and you should be able to them move the selection around ..

Wendy

[kdmcfarlin]

I understand that it may not be practical to update the content of the class. However since the class offers bonus content, it would appear that offering a bonus class which only focuses on the major differences between the original class version and the current version of PE would be useful. This would apply to those cases where the functionality of the current version differs significantly with the original version. Keep in mind that in most cases the people taking the class may be new to PE.

[kdmcfarlin]

Hi Wendy,

First, I really do appreciate your prompt response to my query! How ever when I attempted your fix (duplicated the layer, simplifying the layer, ensuring selection of the top layer, then image/rotate/180) the rotation rotated not the selected area of the picture but the entire picture. Am I doing something wrong? BTW, I only simplified the top layer.

[Wendy]

Hi ...

You need to look a little lower down the menu and choose

Image>Rotate>Layer 180 degrees ...

I suspect at the moment that you are just doing Image>Rotate 180 degrees :)

That one fools a lot of people :)

Wendy

[kdmcfarlin]

Hi Wendy,

The operative word here is “fool.” As you suspected, I did not see the other options. The blind man sees! I really hope you understand how much I appreciate your swift and sensitive responses. I find your explanations clear and to the point. As a first time user of the forum, I immediately see the benefit of using the forum.

Finally, if I had known about the true value of the forum I would have not posted my polling question about the differences between the online class version of PE and the current version. If you get quick and responsive post to your query via the forum there is no need to focus on the differences in the tutorial.

Thanks again!