 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Layers with PaintShop Pro 5 John Swann |
When you load a graphics file into Jasc Software's PaintShop Pro 5 you can alter the file directly, or create one or more layers keeping the original file intact. The advantage of working in layers allows you the freedom to add or adjust a specific element without altering the entire file. Mistakes can be deleted with subsequent layers being unaffected. A layer acts like a single clear acetate sheet. It is transparent until you paint pixels on the surface. The opacity can be adjusted and a choice of mode selected which controls how the current layer blends with the layers below. A layer can be brought forward or sent back hiding some of its pixels by the front layer. This is done by changing its stacking order. Simply hold down the left mouse button over the layers name and drag it up or down the stack. After the graphics file is loaded it will appear in the Layers palette as "Background". It is best to create a new layer using the "Background" so the original file is unchanged; just in case you make a mistake. With the cursor over the Background name in the Layers palette, right mouse click and then click duplicate. A copy of the Background will be created and the layer options will now be active. Only one layer can be edited at a time. You must click the name box to edit that layer even though it is visible. Its position in the stack doesn't matter when editing so there is no need to move the active layer to the top. The layer options are listed on this page. Load a graphic file and try each feature. Next month I will give a brief explanation of each, with a working sample for you to try. |
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Reprinted from the September 2000 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
