Photoshop Elements 3: The Missing Manual

Creating Layers

Your image doesn't automatically have multiple layers. Lots of newcomers to Elements expect the program to be smart enough to put each object in a photo onto its own layer. It's a lovely dream, but even Elements isn't that brainy. To experience the joy of layers, you first need to add at least one layer to your image, which is what you'll learn how to do in the next few sections.

Tip

It might help you to follow along through the next few sections if you get out a photo of your own or create a new file to use for practice. (See page 27 for details on how to create a new file.) If you create a new file, choose a white background.

COMPATIBILITYWhich File Types Can Use Layers?

You can add layers to any file you can open in Elements, but not every file format lets you save those layers for future use.

For instance, if your camera shoots JPEGs, you can open the JPEG in Elements and create lots of layers, but when you try to save the file, you'll see a warning reminding you that you can't have layers in a JPEG.

Usually you'll want to choose either Photoshop (.psd) or TIFF as your format when saving an image with layers, because they both let you keep your layers for future use. PDF files can also have layers.

If someone using Photoshop sends you an image that has layers, you'll see them in the Layers palette when you open the file in Elements. Likewise, Photoshop can see layers you create in Elements.

If someone sends you a Photoshop file with layer sets (a way to group layers ...