Using Layers in Digital Scrapbooking
Tips on Using a Key Feature in Image-editing Software
Oct 19, 2009
Digital scrapbookers use software to bring together digital photos and scrapbooking elements to create an attractive page layout that displays their photographs. Image-editing software such as Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Paint Shop Pro or The Gimp has a feature called layers which is the perfect solution for digital scrapbookers.
How Layers Work
A layer can be seen as an invisible sheet of plexiglass stretching across a scrapbook page. When an item is pasted onto a layer, it floats there and the rest of the layer is transparent. The layer holds the item or items in it so they can be moved independently of the other layers. If an item in a layer is in front of an item in another layer, it covers it up, just as a paper scrapbooking item would cover one it was placed on top of.
What Can Be Done With Layers
The background is the first layer. It's furthest down, or farthest back, and can contain the paper the page is built on. Anything else float on top of the background. When items overlap, their layers can be moved up or down so that they are in the correct orientation with regard to each other.
Layers can also be merged. For example, if each letter of a title is on a different layer, those layers can be merged into one layer so the title can be moved around as one piece.
Special effects can be applied to layers. A drop shadow can be given to the title mentioned above, for instance. Other special effects can be applies just to one layer, leaving the rest of the page alone. Layers can also be resized or rotated independently of the rest of the page.
Copies can be made of layers. The copy then acts as an independent layer that can be resized, reflected or rotated. One copy can be made black and white while the other remains in color. There are many ways a copied layer can be used to add to a scrapbook page.
Blending Effects
Digital scrapbookers can get great effects by using layer blending effects. A photo can be overlayed onto the background paper to give it a unique look, for example. Stunning layouts can be made using this effect that are not really possible with paper scrapbooking.
Layers Add Value to Digital Scrapbooking
When creating a scrapbook page layout, layers are more than just a way to overlap items as paper scrapbookers do. Because of the digital effects made possible by the layer feature, digital scrapbook pages can be a showcase for the photos displayed in them.
 |
 |
