Table of Contents
Advertisement
See also
"Understanding layers" on page 81
"Merging adjustment layers" on page 98
To flatten an image
When you flatten an image, Photoshop Elements merges all visible layers into the background, greatly reducing the
file size. Flattening an image discards all hidden layers, and fills any transparent areas with white. In most cases, you
won't want to flatten a file until you've finished editing individual layers.
Make sure that the layers you want to keep in your image are visible.
1
Choose Flatten Image from either the Layer menu or the Layers palette More menu.
2
You can see the difference between your image's layered file size and its flattened file size by choosing Document Sizes
from the status bar pop-up menu at the bottom of the image window.
See also
"Understanding layers" on page 81
Opacity and blending modes
About opacity and blending options in layers
A layer's opacity determines the degree to which it obscures or reveals the layer beneath it. A layer with 1% opacity
is nearly transparent, while a layer with 100% opacity is completely opaque. Transparent areas remain transparent
regardless of the opacity setting.
You use layer blending modes to determine how a layer blends with the pixels in layers beneath it. Using blending
modes, you can create a variety of special effects.
Keep in mind that a layer's opacity and blending mode interact with the opacity and blending mode of painting tools.
For example, if a layer uses Dissolve mode and 50% opacity, and you paint on this layer with the Brush tool set to
Normal mode with an opacity of 100%, the paint appears in Dissolve mode with a 50% opacity. Similarly, if a layer
uses Normal mode and 100% opacity and you use the Eraser tool with an opacity of 50%, only 50% of the paint disap-
pears from this layer as you erase.
ADOBE PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS 4.0
User Guide
93
Advertisement
Table of Contents
