Introduction to Layers and Opacity - Beginning Level
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This is an introduction to layers and opacity in Paint Shop Pro.
It is designed for beginners and has some repeat information for reinforcement.
It is not meant to be comprehensive, but for you start on your way to learning.
Everyone has to start somewhere.
You will be creating a simple background you can use in your projects.
I used Paint Shop Pro 9 for this tutorial, however, you should be able to use other versions as
well.
For a free trial or to purchase Paint Shop Pro, click on the above link.
Step 1
Open a new transparent image.
To do this, select the icon in the upper left area of your Paint Shop Pro window that looks like a
piece of paper with the corner folded down:
You could also choose from your menu: File, New or use Ctrl-N.
In each case, a new window will come up.
Use the picture below as a guide for your settings.
Most of the time you will want to have your units for scrapbooking set in inches (see the red arrow.)
To set it to inches, if it isn't already, you can click on the little triangle next to it for the
drop down menu.
Select inches from that menu.
Set your width and height to the appropriate inches (see the blue arrow.)
I've set mine to 5x5 (inches, that is.)
Please use this same size for this exercise so you can see what I see.
To decide on what resolution to use, you need to first determine if you plan on using the graphic
for viewing on a computer or for printing.
If you plan only for viewing on the computer, 72 should be sufficient.
If you plan to print, use at least 180 but on up to 300.
These numbers stand for dots per inch (dpi.)
If you have 72 dpi, for every inch in your graphic, you have 72 dots.
If you have 300 dpi, for every inch in your graphic, you have 300 dots.
You can see that you would get a much crisper print if you had more dots in an inch.
Why only 72 for computer viewing?
Because you can only distinguish 72 dpi (some are 96 dpi) on your monitor.
The lower the dpi, the smaller your file size when you save it on your computer.
The green arrow is pointing to where you set your dpi.
I used 72, since we only plan to use this one for viewing on the computer.
In this example, we want to set a Raster background, so make sure this button is selected.
We will get into what the others are in later lessons.
Refer to the yellow arrow for where to enter this.
We will be choosing the color depth of 16 million colors (24 bit) for now.
For the most part, for your pictures to look good, you will want this.
If you have fewer colors for a picture, most times the colors will not look true.
Refer to the pink arrow for where to enter this.
If 16 million colors is not shown, click on the triangle next to this field for the drop down menu.
While checking "transparent" for the background isn't that important for this project, I want you
to check it so you can see a bit more about opacity and transparency, as this is part of the lesson.
Refer to the orange arrow so you know which box to have checked.
Finally you can check the "OK" button and your new image will appear.
It should look something like the following (remember, if you made your image a different size other
than 5x5, it will not have the exact same look.
The image below is reduced in size for showing here.
What on earth are those gray and white checks doing there?
That's a good question.
Unless you changed your default settings to something else, this shows transparency.
If you can see it clearly, this means that there is nothing else to see, it's totally transparent.
You can't see anything.
Step 2
Right now we are going to add a new layer.
This layer will also be transparent, but we will be putting something on it in a bit.
Find your Layer Palette. Unless you've changed your default settings, you will find it on the right
hand side in the middle to bottom area.
It looks like this:
If you put your cursor over the icon the red arrow is pointing to in the above picture, it will
say "New Raster Layer".
This is what you click on to add a new raster layer. Do so.
A window will pop up for you to fill in any settings you wish to include in this new raster layer.
Where you see the arrow pointing will probably say "Raster 2" for you.
This is the name of the layer.
You can name each of your layers to keep everything organized.
If you name them properly, you'll be able to tell what is on each one easily.
Just type in the same name I did, Texture Fill.
The other settings should be ok, but double check them anyway.
Blend mode should be normal (we'll get into some of the other modes in future tutorials), opacity
should be 100, link set should be 0, layer is visible should be checked.
Click on the OK button.
Your layer palette will now look similar to this:
Notice the "Texture Fill" layer will be on top.
Step 3
It is now a good time to save your file.
It is good practice to save your file often.
To save your file, click on the diskette icon:
You can also use: File, Save from the menu, or Ctrl-S.
In all cases, a window will pop up prompting you for a file name.
Below is the bottom part of that window:
You may enter the name of your file in the "Name:" field.
In the "Save as type:" field, make sure you have "Paint Shop Pro Image" selected.
If it isn't, click on the little triangle next to it for a drop down menu and select it there.
It is important to save as a Paint Shop Pro Image, because it will save all your layer information
with it.
Click the Save button when ready.
Step 4
Now we'll get to adding something to our image!
You should still have your Texture Fill layer active (highlighted in your Layer Palette.)
If it isn't, click on that layer in your Layer Palette to make it active.
Now we will choose a color to put on this layer.
We will be using the Materials Palette for this.
The Materials Palette is also on the right side of the Paint Shop Pro window, however, it is near
the top:
Yours may not look exactly like this one, but the big give-away are the two color boxes on the right
side, where the arrows are pointing.
The top one is for your foreground and the bottom one is for your background.
These can be solid colors, a gradient, or a pattern.
Since this is a beginner's lesson, we will work with just a solid color.
To change your foreground color, click on the foreground box in your Materials Palette.
This is shown by the yellow arrow above.
A window will pop up to change the color. It will look similar to this:
Make sure the Color tab is active (see red arrow) and click on it if it isn't.
You may choose any color or texture you like, but for now, please use the ones I show you so you can
have the same result.
To choose a color shown, just click on it. I chose the one pointed out by the pink arrow.
We will get into choosing other colors later.
Make sure to check the Texture box shown by the yellow arrow.
To select the Texture, just click on the little triangle next to the current texture selection,
shown by the green arrow.
A window will pop up.
Usually the textures are in alphabetical order.
Find Asphalt 02 and click on it.
You will see your current color choice in the current box, shown by the blue arrow.
All those numbers there, well, we'll get into those in a later lesson.
Click the OK button when you are ready.
Step 5
Now to fill your layer with the color you just selected.
On the left side of your Paint Shop Pro window, find the paint bucket icon (flood fill tool):
It is circled in red. You will probably find it near the bottom.
Now all you have to do is go to your image, again make sure the Texture Fill layer is active,
and click (left click for the foreground color.)
It will fill your entire layer with your foreground color (and texture) selection you made.
But you may say, "I can still see some of that gray and white check, just not as clear."
That is true, because your texture has some transparency to it.
It is not solid, but a bit "see through."
Don't worry, we did it this way, because you'll be better able to see what happens.
Save your file (remember, click on your little diskette.)
You will not be prompted for a file name again, because you've already named it.
Step 6
Now we are going to move to your bottom layer.
It is currently named Raster 1.
Make it active by clicking on it in your Layer Palette.
To rename the layer, right click on the layer in your Layer Palette.
A menu will pop up.
Select Rename from the menu.
You will see that the current name of the layer is highlighted with a flashing cursor at the end of
the name.
Type in the new name, "Solid Background."
We will now select a solid color for this layer.
To do so, we will change the background color in your Materials Palette.
To do this, click on the box for the background color like you did for changing the foreground color
(remember, it is below and to the right of the foreground color.)
Again, a window pops up as it did for your foreground color.
The color I selected is circled in red (see the arrow.)
Notice, the texture box is NOT checked. Make sure yours isn't either.
Click the OK button when done.
Make sure your "Solid Background" layer is active.
Now we will flood fill this layer with our background color.
Your paint bucket (flood fill tool) should still be selected.
If it isn't, do so.
Go to your image and RIGHT click.
The reason you have to use the right click is because you want to fill it with your background color.
Left click is for foreground, right click is for background.
You should have something like this:
Notice that you no longer see those gray and white checks.
This is because the bottom layer is opaque.
You'll also notice that the yellow shows through your green layer.
The yellow shows through the transparent parts on the top layer.
Save your file.
Step 7
Now let's just play around a bit so you can see a few things.
After all, why do you even want to work on layers?
It allows you to work on one layer, moving things around, changing things on just that layer, etc.
It won't affect any of your other layers.
So if you've got one part just perfect, and don't want to do anything to it, you won't have to.
Ok, now we're going to hide one of our layers.
Look at your Layer Palette.
Notice the picture of the eye:
Click on the eye for your top layer, Texture Fill.
You'll notice that the eye will now have a red X over it and the green disappears on your image.
It's still there, but hidden.
This would allow you to work on your other layer with a clear view.
Click on that eye again, and the green reappears.
If you click on the eye for the Solid Background, you'll notice the yellow will disappear.
Make sure both of your layers are now visible, no longer hidden.
Next to the eye, on your Layers Palette, you'll see a 100 and then to the side of that two
triangle, one pointing up, the other down:
If you click and drag those triangles to the left, you'll change the transparency of that layer.
Go ahead and change the transparency of the Texture Fill layer.
Move it to 50. You'll notice the green color is lighter.
Move it to 10 and you'll see it's barely there.
The number stands for the percent opacity for the layer.
What good is transparency?
Well, it can create some pretty good effects.
We'll get into some of that in later lessons.
That's the end of this lesson.
For your assignment, try a few textures, colors, transparencies, and image sizes.
You may even create a background you really like, so don't forget to save them.
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