|
|
Post by Inspeqtor on Nov 13, 2016 2:25:47 GMT
I bought from "Creative Live" the video course by Lesa Snider "Photoshop Elements for Photographers" I am working right now on Sharpening, to sharpen a photo of the moon I took. Lesa says sharpening filters will only run on single layers. You are going to want to create a stamped copy (not sure she used the word 'stamped' here?) which gives you a layer to do your sharpening on to be able to reduce the opacity if you need to. To do the stamped layer, hold down the option key (on a Mac) or the ALT key (on a PC) then clicking the layers panel flyout menu (while holding down the Alt key (in my case)) and choose "Merge Visible". When I try this holding down the ALT key does nothing. I do not get the flyout menu. Here are 2 screen shots from the video: ibb.co/nbpuLaibb.co/d3YofaHere is a screen shot from MY computer: ibb.co/bH4uLaI 'think' I need to do the sharpening layer above the "Levels" layer I have at top. Am I doing something wrong here? Should the ALT key do as she says it should? Am I misunderstanding her? Do you need more information? Thank you for your help  |
|
|
|
Post by Sepiana on Nov 13, 2016 2:38:46 GMT
I believe Lesa Snider is talking about running the Stamp Visible command to create a composite layer, a combination of all your visible layers. The advantage of creating such a layer is that you can work on it without affecting the other layers. When you run the Stamp Visible command, Elements creates a new layer at the top of the stack and then fills it with the contents of the other layers.
You need to slide your cursor down the Layer menu options until you get to Merge Visible. Then, let the mouse go. If you don't do the "sliding", the moment you click on "Merge Visible" the drop-down menu will just disappear.
As a side note -- There is more than one way to create a composite layer. Here is another one.
1. Make sure the top layer is selected.
2. Run the Stamp Visible Command by pressing Shift-Alt-Ctrl-E (Shift-Option-Cmmd-E on a Mac).
|
|
|
|
Post by Tpgettys on Nov 13, 2016 2:49:48 GMT
1. Make sure the top layer is selected. 2. Run the Stamp Visible Command by pressing Shift-Alt-Ctrl-E This is definitely the way to do it, I think. This is such a handful of keys that I remember it just because it is so absurd! It is like a Flatten Image command in that it merges all the layers into one, but leaves the underlying layers in place in case you want to go back and modify them. Please understand however, if you do wish to change any of the layers below, you need to hide or delete the stamp layer to see your changes. |
|
|
|
Post by Sepiana on Nov 13, 2016 2:59:32 GMT
Please understand however, if you do wish to change any of the layers below, you need to hide or delete the stamp layer to see your changes. Yes, that's right. However, more important is that, if you make any changes to the layers underneath after you have a created your composite layer, you will need to create another composite layer, one which will reflect the additional changes you have made. That's something I have found that beginning users of Elements seem to forget. |
|
Moto
Established Forum Member
Posts: 640 
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
|
Post by Moto on Nov 13, 2016 6:09:29 GMT
Another way to do this after right clicking the top layer.
1) Click and hold Merge Visible.
2) Press and hold the Alt key.
3) Release the mouse click.
The new Stamp Visible layer will now be the top layer.
You can do the same thing using the Layer Menu. Just follow steps 1, 2 and 3.
|
|
|
|
Post by Inspeqtor on Nov 13, 2016 6:56:25 GMT
Thank you everyone for your help!
Just to clarify to you Sepiana, when I did the ALT & click on the layers panel flyout menu, NOTHING happened. I did not get the menu so because of that I was not able to then click on Merge Visible.
The new trick of Shift-Alt-Ctrl-E does work! My word that is a lot of keys to do at one time!!
Does anyone know why I could not get Lesa's method to work?
Why did the photos I attached not show up in my post? Is it possible to do that or is this the normal thing now?
Again I thank you all!
|
|
|
|
Post by BuckSkin on Nov 13, 2016 7:27:21 GMT
Thank you everyone for your help! Just to clarify to you Sepiana, when I did the ALT & click on the layers panel flyout menu, NOTHING happened. I did not get the menu so because of that I was not able to then click on Merge Visible. The new trick of Shift-Alt-Ctrl-E does work! My word that is a lot of keys to do at one time!! Does anyone know why I could not get Lesa's method to work? Why did the photos I attached not show up in my post? Is it possible to do that or is this the normal thing now? Again I thank you all! I believe where you are messing up is that you press the Alt key too early in the process. Follow Moto's instructions and it should work. For what it is worth, the new merged-visible layer will not automatically be the top layer; it will appear in the layer stack immediately above whatever layer that is selected when the merge-visible command is implemented. I hope this helps; thanks for reading. |
|
|
|
Post by Sepiana on Nov 13, 2016 7:35:16 GMT
Just to clarify to you Sepiana, when I did the ALT & click on the layers panel flyout menu, NOTHING happened. I did not get the menu so because of that I was not able to then click on Merge Visible. The new trick of Shift-Alt-Ctrl-E does work! My word that is a lot of keys to do at one time!! Does anyone know why I could not get Lesa's method to work?
Lesa's technique is a very standard one. If I remember it correctly, you have a copy of Barbara Brundage's The Missing Manual. She describes the same technique in Chapter 3 -- Layers: The Heart of Elements.
You can use this technique via either the Layers panel or the Layer menu (top bar). In her video Lesa is using the Layers panel; my instructions in my previous post are to use the Layer menu.
I believe the problem you are having is how you are following the steps. Try this.
Via the Layers panel:
1. Click and hold the four-lined square to bring up the menu. 2. While holding the cursor down, press and hold the Alt key. 3. Slide the cursor down to "Merge Visible". 4. Once "Merge Visible" is highlighted, release both the cursor and the Alt key.
Via the Layer menu:
1. Click and hold the "Layer" tab on the top menu bar.
2. While holding the cursor down, press and hold the Alt key.
3. Slide the cursor down to "Merge Visible".
4. Once "Merge Visible" is highlighted, release both the cursor and the Alt key.
|
|
|
|
Post by Inspeqtor on Nov 13, 2016 7:46:28 GMT
I believe where you are messing up is that you press the Alt key too early in the process. Follow Moto's instructions and it should work. For what it is worth, the new merged-visible layer will not automatically be the top layer; it will appear in the layer stack immediately above whatever layer that is selected when the merge-visible command is implemented. I hope this helps; thanks for reading. Buckskin, You are right, I should have tried Moto's instructions <sigh> Moto, I am sorry I should have tried your instructions right away, and I did not... please forgive me! |
|
|
|
Post by Inspeqtor on Nov 13, 2016 7:58:16 GMT
Sepiana, Thank you again for your help. As you read I did try Moto's way and did get it to work. Trying your way: Under the Layers Panel, when I click and hold down on the 4 lined square, nothing happens while I am holding the mouse key down. Please try this yourself again. When I release the mouse button, THEN the menu appears. Other than that your instructions also work! |
|
|
|
Post by Sepiana on Nov 13, 2016 8:18:19 GMT
Sepiana, Thank you again for your help. As you read I did try Moto's way and did get it to work. Charles, you are most welcome! Glad you found a way that worked for you.
Lesa (in her video), Barbara (in her book), Moto, and I are basically talking about the same technique to create a composite layer -- Alt key + Layer menu or Layers panel + Merge Visible. The difference is just the sequence of the steps to be followed. You just need to use the one you feel most comfortable with.
I am 100% sure it works. As a matter of fact, I tried it before I wrote the instructions -- just to double-check. I held my cursor down and the menu popped up.
|
|
