PSE6 - newbie question

[cntryjewell]

Ok, this very well might be a really dumb question, but because I can't find an answer on my own I'm going to throw it out there and hope for the best. :o

Ok, I bought PSE6 this morning and just got it installed. I was going through the tutorial here (http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/tutorials/t_introtolayers2.php). I managed to drag and drop the bear pic onto the baby pic, but I can't figure out how to bring up the layer palette so that I can rename the bear layer. The help file says you need to go to Window > Layers, but on my Window menu Layers is grayed out and it won't do anything. :(

Now what? Help!

TIA

CntryJewell

[Michel B]

Maybe not your answer, but are you sure you are working in 8 bits? There are no layers in 16 bits mode, supposing you start with raw files and ACR?

[cntryjewell]

Michael

Thanks for taking the time to respond. Unfortunately I guess I don't know as much as I thought I did when I bought the software this morning. =)

I'm not sure what you mean about working 8 bits vs 16? The files that I am using are the files that are provided for in the tutorial.

I'm a quick learner, honest, so please be patient. =) Unfortunately though I'm not sure that I answered your questions....

CntryJewell

[Michel B]

Then my guess was wrong...
It's difficult to tell what your problem is, but it has to do with working with the palettes. Normally, if you open the menu: Window, and you check the layers option, you should open the layer palette. It's common to have such difficulties when starting, so don't be discouraged, someone should help you better than I have!

[cntryjewell]

Michael,

Not a problem....I just don't understand why it wouldn't be showing up, and I'm so graphically challenged that I'm not sure even where to go. :)

The bad thing is that it seems like a lot of things that you should be able to do with the layers that you create require you to have access to that palette and I just don't understand why I wouldn't have access to it.

I guess I'll play around with the program and see if I can't figure out if there's something in the preferences or something that I need to check or uncheck, and hope, in the meantime, that someone might be able to help me figure it out.

Thanks again anyway...

CntryJewell

[TonyW]

Just a guess but are you sure you're in Full Edit? In Quick Fix and Guided Edit the Layers pallette will be greyed out I think.

Tony

[cntryjewell]

HA! Just as your post came through on my email I figured it out. You are right. The entire time I was in the "Create" mode (if that's the right word), and had just clicked on "Edit" mode and voila it wasn't grayed out. =)

I feel like just a twit. *sigh* Hopefully when I post again it will be a less ridiculous question.

Thanks Tony, you were right!!

CntryJewell

[TonyW]

Don't worry - we've all been there. The first few days are the worst but stick with it and it will all slip into place. And it does sound like you're up to the challenge :). At least you've found the right place to get help. If I'd had this place when I started my learning curve would have been a lot easier.

Tony