Basic layer effects help

I am currently trying to do basic layering functions in photoshop 6.01 with windows xp and do not understand after reading help and experimentation how to view basic layering effects or how to achieve them. I went from photoshop 4.0 to 6.01. I use to do a large number of images and layers to do complex photographic collages. I need a basic explanation of how to view and vary layer opaqueness, how to copy between layers, etc. I appreciate any help. Thanks!

All starts here:

http://www.teamphotoshop.com/photoshop/tutorials/tools/layerstyle_ex/layerstyle_ex.php

http://www.teamphotoshop.com/photoshop/tutorials/techniques/blendmode_2/blendmodes_2.php

http://www.teamphotoshop.com/photoshop/tutorials/tools/layerblur/layerblur.php

http://www.teamphotoshop.com/photoshop/tutorials/techniques/blendmode/blend.php

http://www.teamphotoshop.com/photoshop/tutorials/techniques/layermask/layermask.php

Isn't teamphotoshop the best or what!? :D

THanks alot! I need even more basic help. The layer window to the right will show layers but I am not seeing the actual layering happening to the picture. Also, I'm having difficulty doing basic copy and paste between picture in layers.

I don't know why he made you post in two different spots, but its all OK. I'll just answer here. Here's a mini-tutorial for you that I just wrote.

1. Find the icon in the bottom of the layer's pallette that looks like two pieces of paper. It should say "Create New Layer" when you mouse over it. Click it and you should see a new layer appear. Click the new layer so that the paintbrush appears by it - that means that any drawing you do will appear on that layer.

1. Click the brush tool and find a brush big enough so you can see it. Then click the foreground color and make it blue. Draw some on the new layer. Then double-click the text on your new layer and you should be able to rename it. Make it "blue paint" or something.

3. Then click the new layer button again and select it and draw some yellow on it and name it "yellow paint".

4. Make a new layer with some green paint on it.

5. Then click the eye buttons next to the layers on and off. You should be able to see the different layers dissappearing and reappearing.

6. Click the move tool (or press'V') and get ready to move the layers.

7. There is an option called "auto select layer" on the top of the screen when you have the move tool active and it is really quite self-explanatory. When you have it checked, the layer you click and drag will be selected and you can move it. When the option is unchecked, you have to select a layer in the layers pallette. That layer will be the one moved, even if you don't click directly on it when you drag it.

8. Move the paint on the layers so that it overlaps. Then get ready to change the order of the layers.

9. All you have to do to make different layers appear above or below is drag them there. For instance, if your blue paint layer is above your yellow paint layer, and you can't see the yellow paint, click the yellow paint layer in the layers pallete and drag it up on top of the blue paint layer. Try it out and you'll see what I mean. It's pretty basic, though.

10. To copy something off of a layer, the layer must be selected. First, select a marquee tool (start with rectangular marquee) and draw a box around some paint. Then select the layer and go edit>copy. Deselect (or not - doesn't matter) and go edit>paste. It should make a new layer with your copied stuff on it.

11. If you have a multi-layer document and you want to copy all of it (multiple layers), click where the paintbrush would go on all the layers you want. A chain should appear, which signifies the merging of layers. Then make a selection with a marquee tool and go edit>copy merged. All of the merged layers should be copied and then you can paste where you want.

12. Merged layers also move together and are transformed together. Link a couple layers together and then move them around. You can also click CTRL-T to transform them. They will stay in perspective to their merged counterparts.

13. Opacity is quite simple. Select the layer you want and drag the opacity slider to where you want it.

14. You can also try layer styles. Double click the layer thumbnail and you'll get the menu. Select stroke (at the bottom) or color overlay or outer glow and you'll see what those do. Fool around with it and you'll be creating professional graphics in no time.

15. Then check out the tutorials that x-fusion posted, if you want more into the different blending modes, which are a great feature of Photoshop.

--Keep asking questions - we're here to help you.

tom