One of my favorites! 

A Priest, A Rabbi And A Layer Walk Into A Bar Or "what Are Layers In Photoshop?

Hello to All,

 

I know I've mentioned and others here have mentioned, "layers" a feature of Photoshop and if you don't use Photoshop or you do, but don't use the "layers" function, because you don't really understand it, then after reading this, you still might not understand it!!! I'll try and simplify what "layers" are and what purpose they provide, get comfortable. To graphically enchance this exercise, we'll need a few props, 1. A small framed photo or painting, 2. 3 Crayons, red,blue, yellow, 3. A roll of Saran Wrap(Blimey, I don't know what yer talkin\' about\"), which is a clear plastic used to cover/wrap food dishes, wrap sandwiches,etc. (Greg, polyvinylidene chloride (PVdC). Ok we're ready to go.

 

Lay the framed 8x10 on a table and look at it, good. Now take the Saran Wrap, cut off enough to completely cover the frame, now, look at it, still the same image. Take your red Crayon and make some red circles on the Saran wrap, not the artwork! Now look at it, something has changed, but not what is underneath the red circles. So this Saran Wrap, or "LAYER" of red doodles, has added something to the original art work, but not in a "destructive" way. Now get another piece of Saran Wrap and cover the 1st piece of Saran Wrap and look at it, nothing has changed again, you can still see the original and the red circles. Pick the yellow Crayon and draw some yellow squares on the Saran Wrap, but try not to write over the red circles. Ok, good, let's get the blue Crayon and make some random shapes and see what we have. You have now created the bottom "layer" which is called the "background" layer and have 3 additional layers, called "yellow, red and blue" and these "layers" are called "Adjustment" layers.

 

You've just come back now, with a glass of Shiraz and looking down onto the artwork, you notice that the 2nd layer, "red" is really affecting the 3rd layer, "blue" and you don't like this affect at all. Peel back the top layer, remove the "red" layer and replace the 3rd layer, "blue" which become layer 2. Throw away the 2nd layer, red.

 

You have now passed the "layers" test and will be receiving a "certificate" in the mail! Good Job All!

 

When I start to work on an image, I do the same as above, without the Crayons and Saran Wrap, but it's still just layers and really, no different. (I know there are heads exploding on this forum right now, but I'm trying to keep this simple). Once I have created the first layer, which is the background layer, the image is the bottom of the stack, I then create a "duplicate" layer and I call this layer "clean". On this layer, I will clean any dust spots, always there, and do any minor cloning or removal of items, like wires, broken branches, garbage,etc. Any and all fine tuning of things that need to be repaired, replaced or removed is done here and I'll be here a while for some images. And another tip, once you invest some effort in this image, keep hitting the "save" button, so you don't have to start all over again, if the computer burps.

 

Ok, done with the "clean" layer and now to the "adjustment" layers. At the bottom of the stack, but above the "clean" layers, these all will be "Global" adjustments, that is everything in the image will be either brighter, more saturated, more contrasty,etc. I usually start with "levels" and will move the histogram around and see what I like visually, without losing any pixels at either end. I may then go to "brightness&contrast" and move these around a bit, but not much, because I know in a few layers, I'll probably be playing with "curves" and that will affect the contrast, as will saturation. (when using sliders to make adjustments, always go past where you think you should be and then come back, otherwise you maybe just a point or two from a "perfect" adjustment)

 

So now, I may have 4-6 layers and you can hit the "eyeball" on any of the layers, over on the Layers pallette and see what you've done. If you find something is offensive or redundant, you literally can grab it and toss it into the garbage can at the bottom of the layers pallette.

 

Now, my layers are very specific, and may be called " Fix Green Leaf" or "Adjust green" or "add contrast to water", because believe it or not, after about an hour or so of this, you won't remember what's what. And you may see like my example above with the crayons, something up here maybe affected by one of the lower layers and you want to be able to find it and adjust it or trash it. I have been hitting the "save" button on every layer, right before I choose a new layer, just make it a habit and you won't regret it.

 

Finally, I've cleaned, fixed,adjusted,color balanced and anything else with this image, with an hour or more time invested and before I do anything further, I save this as a PSD, which is a Photoshop file and it keeps all the layers in the same order as I created them and I take this giant file and call it "Ball of Light 1,Master". From this file, I then can duplicate the file, "flatten" the layers, which further reduces the file size, convert it in "mode" to "8 bits" from "16 bits" at capture, size it and then after sizing it and only then, I will sharpen it to that size, say 13x20. But I never take the "Master" and use that for a print, I always duplicate the Master.

 

My fingers hurt! Class dismissed!

 

Rich