How to Use Layers in Paint Shop Pro

Many of the most interesting graphic effects in Paint Shop Pro come from working with layers. Layers let you apply changes to images while preserving the original image, as well as create complex illustrations and photographic collages. Paint Shop Pro lets you re-stack layers and also features specialized layers to change the color of layers underneath or hide portions of those layers.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Types of Layers

1. Open an image file. This image is automatically set up as the background layer, on which everything else will be placed. If you want to have something appear below it, promote it to a raster layer by selecting "Promote Background Layer" from the "Layers" menu.

2. Add raster layers by selecting "New Raster Layer" from the "Layers" menu. Raster layers display graphic data in pixel grids. Use raster layers for tone and color changes, photographic images and adding text to an image. Raster layers can be used only on grayscale images or color images with a depth of 16 million colors.

3. Draw lines and shapes on images after first adding vector layers by selecting "New Vector Layer" from the "Layers" menu. (A vector layer is added automatically if you try to create a vector image on a raster layer.) Vector images can be scaled to any size and can be easily edited.

4. Incorporate artistic effects by selecting "New Art Media Layer" from the "Layers" menu or use any of the art media tools to automatically add an art media layer. You can "dry" Oil Brush or Palette Knife "paint" strokes by selecting "Dry Art Media Layer" from the "Layers" menu or make them "wet" again by selecting "Wet Art Media Layer" from the "Layers" menu.

5. Adjust the color or tone of layers by placing an adjustment layer over them. Choose "New Adjustment Layer" from the "Layers" menu and select the type of adjustment you wish to make.

6. Apply a grayscale mask layer to an image by selecting "New Mask Layer" from the "Layers" menu and choosing whether to show or hide all underlying pixels. You can paint the mask in its opposite color (white on a black mask, black on a white mask) to reveal part of the underlying layer.

Displaying the Layers Palette

7. Select "Palettes" from the "View" menu.

8. Choose "Layers" from the "Palettes" submenu.

9. Drag the Layers palette to any edge of the display area to dock it.

10. Click the name of any layer listed in the Layers palette to select it.

Manipulating Layers

11. Duplicate an existing layer by selecting its name and choosing "Duplicate" from the "Layers" menu.

12. Group layers by selecting "New Layer Group" from the "Layers" menu and making the necessary changes on the Layer Properties dialog. Link layers by selecting the layers to be linked in the Layers palette and assigning them the same linkage number.

13. Show or hide layers and groups of layers with the Visibility toggles on the Layers palette. Re-stack layers by clicking their names in the Layers palette and dragging them up or down in the list.

14. Make a layer more transparent or opaque by selecting its name in the Layers palette and dragging the opacity slider for that layer to the desired percentage.

15. Blend a layer with the layers underneath by selecting its name from the "Blend Mode" dropdown list and selecting the kind of blending you want to do.

16. Delete an unwanted layer by selecting it in the Layers palette and clicking the Delete Layer button.

17. Merge layers by choosing "Merge" from the "Layers" menu and selecting "Merge Down" to merge two adjacent layers, "Merge Group" to merge all layers in a group," "Merge Visible" to merge all visible layers or "Merge All" to merge all layers. Once layers are merged, they cannot be edited separately.

Tips & Warnings

• When merging layers, always keep a copy of the unmerged image. You may decide you want to make further changes to it later.
• Multi-layer images can be saved only in Paint Shop Pro's native format or Photoshop format; all other formats require the layers to be merged.