Why use Layers ? (Page 5): I've been viewing this exchange about layers and wondering if, since I am considering an upgrade from Lightroom 3 to 4 or 5, and getting Elements 11 at the...

John Howard Loc: SW Florida and Blue Ridge Mountains of NC.

I've been viewing this exchange about layers and wondering if, since I am considering an upgrade from Lightroom 3 to 4 or 5, and getting Elements 11 at the same time, does anyone see any issues with LR 5?
I am not really interested in their Cloud approach, and just want to download the 5 version.
Any thoughts?
JH

bunuweld Loc: Arizona

GaryS1964 wrote:

If I'm going to do any serious editing I always make a duplicate layer of the original Background layer. Then I make layers for each major edit so if I don't like the results I can delete it without losing other edits that took a lot of time to get right. If I really screw things up I always have my original Background layer to go back to.

Agree. Work on a duplicate image, whether PSD or JPEG; never on the original. Another thing that I routinely do while working with a complex multilayer image is to take "snapshots" at intervals on the History panel for particularly attractive compositions. This saves a fair amount of going back or making layers invisible. It also allows for a rapid comparison between the selected snapshots rather than going back to each individual step.

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

Layers and Masks can give you nearly unlimited abilities.

tljensen Loc: SE Iowa

Just finished reading through page 1, but I have to say before I go any farther that I'm getting so much from the things this group shares with each other. I wish there was a like button to "appreciate" certain posts. Just HAPPY being here while I digest all there is to learn from you guys. :) Thanks! Back to your previously scheduled programming!

RiverNan Loc: Eastern Pa

what do you mean FLATTEN?

bunuweld wrote:

To the many possibilities already mentioned (masks and blending especially) you can add the possibility of composing from different pictures. Here is an example of one that I made of our neighborhood dogs, just for fun. Included were various wildlife animals from our area, some of them too small to be visible in the reduced version. There were *many* layers before I flattened it.

cheineck Loc: Hobe Sound, FL

RiverNan wrote:

what do you mean FLATTEN?

In the LAYERS "control widow", if you go to the top right corner there is a drop down menu with many options... one of them is to "Flatten" the file... or, in plain terms, combine all the layers into one layer/background. You will usually use this when you have completed your post processing and want to: A--save the file with the adjustments you made, or B--save the file using "Save As" and rename it so as to preserve the original image file. Try it on an image you don't care about and have fun experimenting with all the layers options!

Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

RiverNan wrote:

what do you mean FLATTEN?

Nan, simply put, if you visualize several 'layers' (photos), and stack them all on top of one another, then squash (flatten), them all down into just one photo... that's the flatten process. It combines all the information of each separate picture into just one final, single photo.

RiverNan Loc: Eastern Pa

doesn't that just happen automatically when you save as...or is it a special step....im gonna go look for it..

will I find it in CS3 or ELEMENTS 8?

Papa Joe wrote:

Nan, simply put, if you visualize several 'layers' (photos), and stack them all on top of one another, then squash (flatten), them all down into just one photo... that's the flatten process. It combines all the information of each separate picture into just one final, single photo.

RiverNan Loc: Eastern Pa

ok found it...
gonna see what happens...
thanks

cheineck wrote:

In the LAYERS "control widow", if you go... (show quote)

cheineck Loc: Hobe Sound, FL

RiverNan wrote:

doesn't that just happen automatically when you save as...or is it a special step....im gonna go look for it..

will I find it in CS3 or ELEMENTS 8?

NO... you have to "flatten" using the layers menu. You can save a non-flattened file as a PS (psd) file or a tiff file, but the tiff file will be larger than normal depending on the number of layers you have---each layer adds to the size of the file--- example: suppose 1 layer (your background layer) is 50 megabytes. Each additional layer will add 50 megabytes to the file size... until you are ready to "flatten" it. Then it returns to the original file size.

Don't know about CS3 or elements 8.

RiverNan Loc: Eastern Pa

fascinating...thanks
one more question
how is that different then merge....

cheineck wrote:

NO... you have to "flatten" using the layers menu. You can save a non-flattened file as a PS (psd) file or a tiff file, but the tiff file will be larger than normal depending on the number of layers you have---each layer adds to the size of the file--- example: suppose 1 layer (your background layer) is 50 megabytes. Each additional layer will add 50 megabytes to the file size... until you are ready to "flatten" it. Then it returns to the original file size.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

One more thing never mentioned... When using layers to make adjustments a tablet is your best tool, especially if it is pressure sensitive (Most are).

Merging layers allows for two or more layers to be 'flattened' but not the whole thing.

Flattens just does everything in a single step.

Otherwise no difference.

cheineck Loc: Hobe Sound, FL

"Merge down" will take the highlighted layer and merge it with the layer below it. "Merge visible" will merge all layers that are "On"... in other words those layers that have not been "turned off" in the menu box.

cheineck Loc: Hobe Sound, FL

Rongnongno wrote:

One more thing never mentioned... When using layers to make adjustments a tablet is your best tool, especially if it is pressure sensitive (Most are).

Merging layers allows for two or more layers to be 'flattened' but not the whole thing.

Flattens just does everything in a single step.

Otherwise no difference.

Have used PS since it was "born" and never used a tablet, or saw the need for one, to make an adjustment. What am I missing here???

RiverNan Loc: Eastern Pa

ok ...barely keeping up...

thanks.

I wasn't there when it was born...hehehe

im a step mom..just getting used to the adolescent I guess...hahahahhahahahahahah

ok...off to merge or flatten someone....thanks again.

cheineck wrote:

"Merge down" will take the highlighted layer and merge it with the layer below it. "Merge visible" will merge all layers that are "On"... in other words those layers that have not been "turned off" in the menu box.