Photoshop Blending Options : Preparing a new layer for blending use

Spruce up your graphics
Setting Document Dimensions
Preparing a new layer for blending use
Layer options
The Blending Options Menu
More Blending Options

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Preparing a new layer for blending use

This is an important step before we actually start to mess with the advanced functions of the blending options menu.

Another setting to check before we get started is to see whether or not you're working in RGB (Red, Green, Blue) mode. Simply go to your Image menu and choose mode > RGB color.

So as we can see, right now, with nothing being changed, we have one layer (appropriately named "background" -- this is the default setting). To be safe, we'll leave that layer alone and create a new transparent layer. So, to do this: go to the layer menu and choose new > layer. Or simply hit ctrl + shift + N (windows) or apple + shift + N (Macintosh). We now have our first non-background layer appropriately named layer 1... Isn't this exciting!

Alright, let's get down to some actual editing of this thing. Before we start messing with the blending options let's simply make this a plain white layer. Now although it may appear white...it's not. It's transparent, and we're seeing the background layer. So to do this: choose your paint bucket tool by selecting it or just hit the letter G:

Next we'll want to make sure our Foreground color is set to white as well. Simply click on your foreground color box, and type in the hex code number FFFFFF.

Finally, go ahead and spill that paint all over your Transparent layer (layer 1).

Dustin Diaz
www.polvero.comDustin is an active member of the Christian-web-masters.com Forums. He enjoys building web sites, and doing graphic design work. Please check out his Sacramento InterVarsity website where you can read Christian articles for College students