Under the covers: how do layers work?

[cbres00]

Can anyone out there explain how layers work, but from a 'here's how the software does it' perspective?

Also, I'm looking forward to the PSE gathering in South San Francisco tomorrow!!

Regards,
Cathy

[Wendy]

Cathy,

I'm not really sure what you mean by "from a 'here's how the software does it' perspective?" ... but one of the best tutorials I have seem for explaining layers is on this site:

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/tutorials/

I just wish it had been available when I first started using Elements :)

Wendy

[cbres00]

Yes, it's a super tutorial. I was wondering if there was in informed soul out there who could tell us more about how layers work internally. The geeky side of layers!

Are layers applied sequentially from the background up? What sort of logic is used to merge layers? That sort of stuff.

Cathy :D

[MikeH]

Cathy,

In the free section, there is a video tutorial on Layers:

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/videotips/

...and another in the Subscriber area.

Mike

[Wendy]

Cathy,

Layers are applied above the current active layer ... so its up to you where a new layer goes.

As to the logic behind how layers merge (how blending modes merge etc) ... I have to confess that I don't have a clue :) I do know that sometime when you merge layers strange unexpected things happen ... and it takes a bit of repositioning layers to get it merge OK.


Wendy