Learn the basics of the most important feature in Photoshop Elements — Layers. Once you have become proficient with Layers you’ll be able to expand and use all the features of Element much more easily.
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[...] Introduction to Layers, Part 1 – Photoshop Elements User Jan 1, 2010 … Learn the basics of the most important feature in Photoshop Elements — Layers. [...]
If you're looking for the quickest way to get up to speed with Adobe Photoshop Elements 10 (or earlier versions, both Windows and Mac), check out our "Learn Elements Today" training course DVD. Our gurus will take you inside all aspects of Elements.
Watch the first two videos here:
Allen Belter
April 9, 2010 at 3:19 pm
Im having trouble viewing the vidio tutorals, its in the wrong format screen size and only part of the screen appears,what should I do.
Cynthia Samco
April 9, 2010 at 3:20 pm
Allen,
Does tapping F11 while the video is playing help the situation?
Regards,
Cindy
Nancy Douglas
April 10, 2010 at 12:26 pm
How do you link all the layers together before printing? Also I am using photoshop elements 4. I just bought photoshop elements 8 and need to know if I take elements 4 off my computer, then put elements 8 on my computer. How do I save my current photos for elements 8? Thanks for any help you can give me. Nancy
Cynthia Samco
April 12, 2010 at 11:28 am
Nancy,
There a couple of ways to go to consolidate your image before printing:
1. You can flatten the image from the Layers Palette
2. Or choose Save As… from the file menu an choose a file format that is supported by your printing service. TIFF is a good choice for most printing services.
Cindy
jose
April 16, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Thank Mike,You make it so easy to understand your tutorial of the video,I’m going yo learn from You.
Michael S.
April 26, 2010 at 3:18 pm
So far, I’m loving the tutorials. I just purchased Elements 8 a few weeks ago; my first Photoshop product ever. I’ve tried to navigate on my own, but there are so many things to learn. I’m getting a new FASTER desktop, since mine is too slow to adequately handle the Elements program. Looking forward to more of your fantastic tutorials!
Brenton
May 5, 2010 at 2:45 pm
Photoshop Editor is exciting again! Thanks Mike…presentations are excellent and to the point!
lynn
May 13, 2010 at 7:05 pm
This is great! I just loaded my PSE on to my computer, and now am beginning to see what I can do with my pictures.
Norma
May 17, 2010 at 6:05 pm
Thank you very much. I learned a lot from this video.
J.T.
May 20, 2010 at 5:38 pm
Very good introduction to layers. I ‘m looking forward to seeing and studying all of them. Thanks
Charlotte
May 27, 2010 at 12:50 pm
Very good tutorial on layers. It still can be confusing at times. I need more practice. :o)
Gayle
May 29, 2010 at 3:50 am
Mike, your layer presentation is excellent. The best tutorial I have experienced. Thank you!
Elise
May 30, 2010 at 3:19 pm
Thank you so very much Mike for the excellent tutorial. I am looking forward to the others. I would like to know how you got the three different shapes on different layers in the layers panel.
Mike
June 22, 2010 at 12:59 am
Hi Elise-
When you draw a new shape, the default setting is to add a new shape layer (and the new shape is then put on its own layer). If you select the shape tool (U) and look in the Options Bar, there are 5 small icons just to the left of the color menu. The far-left icon is the Add New Shape layer icon.
Mike
Salvatore
June 5, 2010 at 1:23 pm
Just Great!….. even as the slow learner that I am, I understood all that he was saying!… AND, if I didn’t get it the first time, I simply STOPPED the video, dragged the cursor to where I wanted it to start up again, and in this way, I could learn at my own SLOW SPEED~.. I’m getting to love this!..
Allen
June 7, 2010 at 9:55 am
In the Layers palette in my copy of Elements 8, the icons for “Create new layer,” “Create adjustment layer, the trashcan icon, etc. are at the bottom of the layer, not the top. How can I change this to the way it’s (I hope) supposed to be? Thanks!
Mike
June 22, 2010 at 12:52 am
Hi Allen-
This is a change in Elements 8…the icons were moved to the bottom (I used V7 when recording this series). So, your version of Elements is working as it should! :)
Mike
Mike
June 22, 2010 at 12:55 am
To all who’ve commented-
Thank you for the kind words, and I’m glad you’ve found the video helpful (sorry I’m so late in commenting–it’s a bit challenging to follow and continually check on all the comments on the various videos).
If you have any requests for future video topics, feel free to send me a note, and we’ll see what we can do! mrodriguez at photoshopelementsuser dot com (using the standard email address format, of course ;) )
Mike
Richard
June 25, 2010 at 12:29 pm
I am a newbie to Elements and the concept of layers is quite fascinating. The tutorial was excellent and most enlightening. Any suggestions about followup tutorials and/or books for the beginner just starting to use layers? (There’s so much out there it gets a little crazy…) Thanks!
Mike
June 25, 2010 at 3:21 pm
Hi Richard-
Thanks. Glad it got you started. A couple things that would be very easy to start with:
- There’s a Layers Part 2 video that you can view here: http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/members/introduction-to-layers-part-2/
- Many, many of the tutorials in the video section use layers. They may not focus specifically on layers, use them to create the effect, final product, etc.
- If you haven’t found it already, there’s a written article on Layers that appeared in a previous issue of Photoshop Elements Techniques. The pdf can be downloaded here (scroll down a ways to the PDF Tutorials section): http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/learningcenter/
Hope that helps to get you started!
Mike
Mike
June 25, 2010 at 3:23 pm
<>
That sentence above should read: – Many, many of the tutorials in the video section use layers. They may not focus specifically on layers, BUT use them to create the effect, final product, etc.
:)
Robert
July 30, 2010 at 1:57 pm
Great video. Very easy to follow and learn. I’m so happy that I subscribed to this site. I feeling good about learning more.
Raymond
August 17, 2010 at 8:27 am
For a reason unknown to me, like a few other people, I am unable to view the video tutorials. I don’t have trouble on many of the other websites that show video, only this one.
Ray Christian
Peter
August 17, 2010 at 10:36 pm
Ray,
You may need to download quicktime player http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/
Peter
Sandra
August 25, 2010 at 4:00 am
This video was wonderful! Going to version 2 right now!!!!
Bernard
October 7, 2010 at 12:38 pm
The audio works but I am not getting any picture. What do you suggest I do?
Lynn
October 11, 2010 at 2:50 pm
For those having trouble viewing the tutorials—-
I had a problem, too, because the tutorials would run a few seconds, then stall.
My workaround is to download the tutorials and put them on a flash drive. That way I can watch them as many times as I need to, pause to take notes, and quickly review if I’m working on something.
There’s something new or a good review in each one. –Gosh! Maybe I’m catching on!
Thanks!
Geri
November 2, 2010 at 2:21 pm
The video will not load. All I see is the Quick Time Logo. Any ideas?
Rick LePage
November 3, 2010 at 11:26 am
Try clicking on the “Download this movie” link and see if you can view it that way, Geri.
Gerald
November 12, 2010 at 11:56 am
Good, quick, easy-to-grasp into. to Layers. God Show Mike!
Laurel
January 31, 2011 at 9:05 am
I’m also having trouble with viewing the videos. I get no picture (tapping F11 doesn’t help) and the voice track is garbled (sounds as if I am hearing it double) and very fast. Any suggestions?
Arlene
March 17, 2011 at 6:22 pm
I love the viewing the videos but I would rather have subtitles or captions at the bottom. So I can read the captions at the same time what you want to show us.
The reason I asked for captions, is because I am deaf. I am very exciting but frustrating at the same time. I want to learn to use the shortcuts by using the keyboards.
Please insert the captions! Thank you!
Doris
April 9, 2012 at 5:41 am
Can I print this out? Videos do not work for me, I have a hearing problem. Thanks.