Tutorial Four

Working In Layers

In this tutorial I am going to try and explain what "Layers" are, and the difference between the types, and why they are so important.

When you are creating a tag, if you tried to create everything on the same "Layer" you could soon end up in quite a mess, and you would not be able to create a lot of the effects you see in many of the tags found on the net.

There are many different types of layer, and a tag can contain many layers depending on the complexity of the design. Types of layer include Background, Raster, Vector, Art Media, Mask, Adjustment, Group and Selection . Paint Shop Pro as a program can support up to 500 layers, but the actual number of layers allowed in any given image is limited by the amount of memory on your computer.

When you open an image in jpeg, gif or png format in Paint Shop Pro it will have been given the name "Background Layer".

I This layer cannot be renamed within the program, but in order to do anything with it, like change it's blend mode or it's opacity, or it's order in the layer stack, you need to promote it to a regular Raster Layer. To do this, right click on the Background Layer in the Layers palette , and promote it to a Raster Layer.

The Image will now show as Raster 1:-

When you create a New Image with a transparent background, it does not have a background layer and will automatically be called Raster 1. You may move this layer anywhere in the stacking order, or change it's opacity and blend mode.

A raster layer contains raster data.This is composed of individual elements called pixels arranged in a grid. Each pixel has a specific location and colour. If you magnify a pixel image, you can actually see the individual pixels as squares of colour. Raster layers are used for displaying subtle changes in tone and colour, and for objects and raster text on which you wish to apply raster only commands and tools. The painting tools and many other tools will only work on a raster layer.

Vector Layers are made up of vector objects, lines and shapes, vector text or vector groups. Vector objects and text are made up of geometric characteristics, i.e. lines and curves together with their locations. When you edit a vector object or text, you edit these lines and curves not their individual pixels. Vector objects and text maintain their clarity when scaled to any size or resolution. Vector Layers are used to create objects or text that are easy to edit. If you wish to see the name of a vector object on a vector layer, click the plus sign in front of the layer name on the layer palette.

Vector objects must be on vector layers. If you try to create a vector object whilst on a raster layer, Paint Shop Pro will open a vector layer above the current layer. If you try to use a raster tool, like a bevel or drop shadow whilst on a vector layer, Paint Shop pro will prompt you to convert the vector layer into a raster layer.

Art Media layers are automatically created if you begin to use an Art Media Tool like the Oil Brush or Palette Knife. They can be converted to Raster Layers but not to Vectors. There will be a separate tutorial later in the series on how to use Art Media Layers as there is so much you can do with them.

Mask Layers either show or hide areas of an underlying layer. A mask in it's basic form is an adjustment layer that modifies opacity. Masks can be used to create quite sophisticated effects, and there is a separate tutorial which looks at their basic use.

Adjustment layers are correction layers which adjust the colour or tone of layers below it. An adjustment layer makes the equivalent correction as an equivalent command in the adjust menu, without changing image pixels as the command does.

Saving multi-layered images. - If you wish to save an image retaining all it's layers, you must save it as a .psp image format. If you save to most other formats all the layers are merged into one background layer. Paint Shop Pro will save the image retaining the layer type as well, i.e. raster, vector, art media etc. In psd (Photoshop) format, vector and art media layers will be changed to raster layers, but layers will be kept.

 

This Tutorial was written in May 2010 by Helen Peachey, and the concept of the tutorial is copyrighted.
Please feel free to LINK to the tutorial and/or print it out for your personal use,
but please do not copy it in any way to put online, pass out or re-write without permission.
The image you create using this tutorial is for you to do what you wish except for monetary gains or for merchandising.
© Peachies Designs and Tutorials. Any Resemblance to another tutorial is purely coincidental.