This is the second in a series answering Dallis' question (April 25, 2007) on how I accomplished the blending in the Marcon image (see my post of April 26, 2007).
There's simply no reason for me to produce a basic "Layers" tutorial-there are so many excellent resources already available. However, the element of development that is lacking in a vast majority of them is how to apply Layers (and Blending Modes) to aerial and technical images-I'll focus my efforts on explaining those issues.
First of all, one of the best sources of information on any Photoshop ("PS") mechanical issue is PS Help (F1). If you are methodical in your studying it is possible to absorb all you really need to know about the mechanics of Layers in a few sessions in PS Help.
PS Help is orderly and concise, but it doesn't really develop strategy. Don't hesitate to ignore items that have little or no apparent relevance to your particular area of interest (for example, if you are an aerial photographer, you probably don't need to understand Clipping Paths...at least, in the beginning). As you develop competencies with Layers you'll end up discovering what you really do need to know...and what you don't. PS was developed for a very broad range of users, from technical shooters to graphic artists, and I'm personally unfamiliar with any practitioner who has a comprehensive knowledge in all aspects of PS.
There are numerous excellent online tutorials and tutorial libraries. lynda.com is one of the best known and largest-they do operate on a subscription basis. I've reviewed several of their Flash tutorials and found a small number of errors, but those errors were confined to deep technical/esoteric matters. Still, it does give one pause as to who is producing and fact checking their products. photoshopcafe and the National Association of Photoshop Professionals are other superior online resources.
DVD-based tutorials are available. I'm very impressed with Total Training's series. They're relatively expensive, but you've surely heard the old adage that if you think learning is expensive, try ignorance. Total Training seems to be in some dear association with Adobe, which can't hurt if you're ultimately planning on earning your Adobe Certified Expert credentials.
Photoshop seminars and training sessions are popular, but they are rigid in form (they teach their curriculum, not necessarily what you might need in your concentration). This can be tremendously frustrating and wasteful of time-personally, I prefer to study on my own for the sake of various efficiencies.
It is the coverage of functions and capabilities irrelevant to my practice that is my fundamental objection to structured learning. As an aerial photographer, I have no use for a great majority of the design features and filters PS offers, and which structured courses tend to emphasize.
So, while my tactic in this case seems to be to deflect explaining Levels, my intentions are honorable, and I'll fill in the holes left by the tutorials I presume you'd be engaging.
Here are a few fundamental strategies you should absorb for the present:
- Use Layers to set up the application of Blending Modes. Layers really don't do much other than order/sequence visibility and effects by themselves-it's the use of Adjustment Layers, Layer Masks and Blending Modes that produce your therapies for an image. Think of Layers as a basic tool-more of a vehicle-for your manipulations.
- Order Layers deliberately. If you have Layers with different Blending Modes and you change their order, you will likely (there are always exceptions) find that the nature of the resulting composite image changes. Effects are applied sequentially from the top down, including within Layer Sets.
- Study and employ Layer Sets. Understand and know how to disable the Pass Through mode for Layer Sets. Layer Sets are absolutely critical in advanced image editing. Note that arranging Layer Sets differently will alter their resulting aggregate effect, just as rearranging individual Layers will.
- Use Layers to make a "safety"duplicate before you make any changes to an image Layer (a Layer that is an image or contains a portion of an image). Ideally, you'll not alter your base image (Background) except for the occasional Transformation or distortion correction, which must be applied before other edits are applied since the other edits will be spatially dependent upon that underlying image. Cloning and Healing Tool applications may usually be applied at any step in the preparation process, even after flattening the image for output. My own preference is to do any cloning or healing before other preparations.
- Layers are resource-hungry. Balance this fact with your need to use supernumerary Layers for safety backups and such. Saving layered images in the .psd (Photoshop) rather than the .tif format can drastically reduce file size, particularly if you are using vector-defined Fill Layers or Transparencies. Turning off Layers Thumbnails can minimize resource demands, but probably not by much.
- Individual Layers can be manipulated with the Threshold command. Threshold is an extremely powerful tool for advanced selections, but unless you're already familiar with it, tuck it away for our Blending Modes discussion.
- Adjustment Layers are absolutely crucial. Do not apply Levels or Curves to an image Layer-apply Adjustment Layer/s. You can Drag & Drop Adjustment Layers from one image to another freely.
- Opacity of a Layer affects both the Layer and Layer Style (and of course, the Blending Mode result). Fill doesn't affect the Layer Style. Both are accessible at the top of the Layers Pallette, but also in the Layer Style/Blending Options Dialogue Box by double-clicking on the Layer.
- As the number of Layers in an image increases, it becomes very important to administer them effectively. Name Layers descriptively. Use color coding (in Layer Properties) for various types of Layers if you find it helpful (e.g. if you've disabled Layer Thumbnails). Merge Layers or Flatten an image only when you know that you know that you know that you won't need to recover individual Layers.
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