Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
COMPATIBILITY CORNER: WHICH FILE TYPES CAN USE LAYERS?
You can add layers to any file you can open in Elements, but not every file format lets you
save
layers.
For instance, if your camera shoots JPEGs, you can open those JPEGs in Elements and add layers
to them. But when you try to save these files, Elements presents you with the Save As dialog box
instead of just saving. If you turn off the dialog box's Save Layers checkbox, a warning tells you
that you have to save as a copy. That's Elements' way of telling you that you can't have layers in
a JPEG file, so you need to save the image in another format to keep the layers.
You usually want to choose either Photoshop (.psd) or TIFF as your format when saving a layered
image because they both let you keep layers. (PDF files can also have layers, but not PDFs you
create in Elements.) But if you don't need the layers, then just save your JPEG as a copy, close
the original file, and say No when Elements asks if you want to save your changes.
If someone using the full-featured Photoshop sends you a layered image, then you'll see the lay-
ers in the Layers panel when you open the file in Elements. Likewise, Photoshop folks can see
layers you create in Elements.
If you open a Photoshop file with a layer that says “indicates a set” when you move your cursor
over it in the Layers panel, that's what Photoshop calls a
layer group
or
layer set
(a way of group-
ing layers into what are essentially folders in the Layers panel), depending on which version of
Photoshop created the file. Elements doesn't understand layer sets, so ask the sender to expand
the sets and then send you the file again. Alternatively, you can use the Layer→Simplify com-
mand to convert the set to a single layer, which may or may not be editable. Or you can search the
Internet for add-on toolsets (
Stuff from the Internet
) or look for scripts that will let you expand the
set in Elements. Elements+ (
Stuff from the Internet
)
is one option.
Creating Layers
As you learned earlier in this chapter, your image files don't automatically have multiple lay-
ers. Lots of newcomers to Elements expect the program to be smart enough to put each ob-
ject in a photo onto its own layer, which is a lovely dream, but Elements isn't
that
brainy. To
experience the joy of layers, you first need to add at least one layer to your image; you'll
learn how in the next few sections.
