Photoshop Elements 5: The Missing Manual

146 Photoshop Elements 5: The Missing Manual

Creating Layers

Creating Layers

Your image doesn’t automatically have multiple layers. Lots of newcomers to Ele-

ments 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 experi-

ence 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 may 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. Or, you can download either the harvestfestsmall.psd

or leaves.jpg file from the “Missing CD” page at www.missingmanuals.com. (See page 39 for

details on how to create a new file; if you do so, choose a white background.)

Adding a Layer

Elements gives you several different ways to add new layers. You can use any of the

following methods:

• Select Layer ➝ New ➝ Layer.

• Press Ctrl+Shift+N.

• In the Layers palette, click the New Layer icon (the little square shown in

Figure 6-5).

When you create a new layer using any of these commands, the layer starts out

empty. You won’t see a change in your image until you use the layer for some-

thing (pasting something into the empty layer or painting on it, for example). If

you look at the Layers palette, you’ll see that any new layer you add appears just

above the layer ...