PhotoKit-EL Layers

When you launch Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0, the default position of the Layers palette is in the Palette Well. However, to increase the usefulness of the Layers palette for PhotoKit-EL we would suggest keeping the Layers palette open and visible.

To use the Layer palette as a stand alone, simply drag the palette out of the Palette Well and place it on your workspace. We suggest just under the Recipes palette as shown below.

After launching and selecting a PhotoKit-EL Effect, Elements will run through the programmed steps and return the effect chosen as a separate layer on top of your Background layer. Layers allow you to stack a variety of layer types above your image and provides enormous power for image corrections and enhancements. From the previous example where we ran a 'Boost Contrast 3' effect on the image, you'll learn how to use the Layers palette to control the resulting PhotoKit-EL effects.

The eyeball on the layer controls the visibility of that layer. An important consideration when using PhotoKit-EL is that all visible layers are used and combined to create the effect. So, if you don't wish to have a layer used to create the effect, it's important to turn that layer off.

In addition to simply turning off the layer, you can also control the strength of the effect by changing the opacity of the resulting layer.

Controlling the strength by dragging the opacity slider allows you to fine tune the results. However, the opacity is only one way of adjusting the results of PhotoKit-EL.

By selecting the Eraser tool you can selectively modify where the effects will be applied.

We suggest using a rather low brush opacity (try 10-20%) with a soft-edged brush to erase areas with a degree of subtlety. Erase slowly to achieve more accurate blends between the original image and the effects layer. The Layers palette will show you what areas have been erased.

To see the results of erasing even more profoundly, you can turn off your bottom 'Background' layer to see the areas you've erased.

Remember, Elements 2.0 has multiple 'Undos' so you can undo multiple brush strokes if you erase too much. If the effects layers gets too screwed up, you can always toss it in the trash and start again. That is the power of using layers. To see how you can use a series of PhotoKit-EL effects to create a complete image correction and how to better manage multiple layers, click HERE.