Using
Layers In Paint Shop Pro 7
One of the most useful
tools in Paint Shop Pro are image layers. Images can be constructed using up to
100 layers (if your computer has enough memory). Using layers allows you to work
separately on different parts of your image without affecting other parts. For
example, if you were to apply a drop shadow on a new layer you could adjust the
opacity of the shadow without changing the opacity of the rest of the image.
There are over 30 pages in the PSP help file concerning layers. Not including
Vector and Adjustment layers. The following is a basic overview on the use of
layers, simple enough to get you started. Please refer to the help file for
information on the more advanced features of layers.
Paint
Shop Pro 7 - Menus and Tools
How To Add A Layer To
Your Image.
There
are three types of layers available for you to use.
- Raster layers.
- Vector layers.
-
Adjustment layers.
At this time we will only be concerned with Raster layers. Think of
a layer to be like adding a clear sheet of plastic over your image
(Example 1, on the right) and drawing on that. All layers apart from the background layer are
transparent unless color is added to them. You can still see the
original image through the clear layer but it is not affected by
anything you do on the second layer. The original layer will be
called the Background layer.
To add another layer to an image
- Go to the "Layers" Menu (See Example
2 above)
- Click on "New Raster
Layer" from the dropdown menu.
- In the Layer Properties Box
(Example 3 below) type in a name for your layer.
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Example
1
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Example
2
Example
3
This will avoid confusion when you are using a number of layers.
Leave the default settings as they are and click OK. You now have a
second layer on your image. Repeat this for every layer you require.
When working with layers you must select the layer you wish to work
on. (see below)
How To Work
With The Layer Palette.
To access the layer palette:
- Go to "View" Menu.
- Go to "Toolbars" on the dropdown menu.
- Click on the "layer palette"
box and then click Close.
- The
"Layer Palette" Example 4 is presented.
Example
4
Right Click on
Guitar or White to view layer
image, see below:
Using the Layer Palette (Example 4 above) you can :-
- Select which layer you want to work on (Example below).
Click on the layer title bar 
to make that your active layer.
-
Create a new layer.
Click on the new layer 
icon. Then fill in the properties box.
Another method of adding a layer.
Right click on any layer title bar and choose New Raster Layer
or New Vector Layer (See Example 5). As a shortcut to create a raster layer, you can click on
the icon in the upper left corner of the Layer Palette.
- Turn the visibility of a layer on and off.
Click the layer visibility 
icon to toggle visibility.
-
Change the order/reorder of your layers. Left click and drag your layer up
and down the list. Layers that are higher in the layers order will appear on
top of layers that fall below.
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By
right clicking on a "Layer Title Bar"
you can access a menu
(Example 5, on right) that allows
you to:-
-
Choose what type of layer to add.
-
Duplicate a layer.
-
Delete a layer.
-
Rename
a layer.
-
Access the layer properties box. Where you can rename your layers.
-
Access layer view options. View all or currently selected layers.
-
Select a method of merging (combining) layers.( see below )
-
If you Go to
"Layers" Menu > Arrange,
you will find another way to arrange your layers (Example 6 below).
-
When pasting to an image, Go to
"Edit"
Menu > Paste > Paste as New Layer, to add a new layer to your
image (Example 7 below).
-
Double clicking on the
Layer Title Bar will bring up the
properties box for that layer
(Examples 8 and 9 below).
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Example
5
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Example 6
Example
7
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Example
8 |
Example
9
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Right Click on Guitar
for Layer Properties
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How To Merge
Layers And When To Do It.
You can merge any
number of layers together at any time if required.
-
Go to "Layers"
Menu (Example 10 below).
-
Go to "Merge".
Select..
-
"Merge All
(Flatten)". This will reduce your image to
one layer, combining all your layers.
-
"Merge Visible". This will only merge the layers that
you have visible at that time.
(see above for toggling layer visibility on and off.)
Also access the Merge command by right clicking on the Layer Title
Bar in the layers palette.
-
Another Method to Merge layers.
To merge the
entire image, simply right click on any layer and choose "Merge
All Flatten" (Example 10a below). You will be left with
exactly the same result visually, but all your layers will have
merged into one.
You can also
merge only the images that are visible in the document. To make a
layer invisible, click on the eyeglasses near the center of the
Layer Palette. An "X" will appear through the icon and the
contents of that layer will disappear from the document screen.
(Click again to make it visible again.)
To merge
several layers, but not all, simply turn off the visibility for any
any layers you do not wish to merge. Right click on any layer and
choose "Merge Visible". Be careful though. A merge cannot be
reversed unless you can use the Undo command.
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Example
10 |
Example
10a |
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You will need to merge your layers if you wish to save your
graphic in any other format except .psp format.
-
If you want to save your image with layers, .psp is the only
format you can use.
-
Once an image or layers are merged, it is not possible to
reverse this action unless the "Undo" command is used
immediately.
-
You may wish to merge just two of your many layers while working
on a image. Just make these two the only layers visible and select
"Layers" > Merge > Merge Visible.
Example Of
Layers Being Used In An Image.
To look at an example of layers being used in an image:
-
Open PSP.
-
Open the Image Browser. (Go to
the "File" Menu > Browser.)
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PSP 5....Go to
C:\ Program Files\ Paint Shop Pro 5\ Images.
PSP 5 users should have a "Wolf" image.
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PSP 6....Go to
C:\ Program Files\ Paint Shop Pro 6\ Images.
Open the Bottle.psp image.
-
PSP 7....Go to
C:\ Program Files\ Jasc Software Inc\ Paint
Shop Pro 7\ Images.
Open
Guitar.psp
or
Jazzman.psp.
(these are vector images, but the use of layers to build the
graphic follows the same principle as raster layers).
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Last
Modified on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 12:09 PM
to adjust opacity.
icon.