Serif PhotoPlus X3 ECD518624M User Manual
Product codes
ECD518624M
Layers and Masks
135
Basics of using layers
If you're accustomed to thinking of pictures as flat illustrations in books, or as
photographic prints, the concept of image layers may take some getting used to.
In fact, layers are hardly unique to electronic images. The emulsion of
photographic prints, the concept of image layers may take some getting used to.
In fact, layers are hardly unique to electronic images. The emulsion of
photographic film has separate layers, each sensitive to a different color—and
we've all noticed multiple-image depth effects like shop window reflections or
mirrored interiors. There is still something magical about being able to build up
mirrored interiors. There is still something magical about being able to build up
an image in a series of planes, like sheets of electronic glass, each of which can
vary in transparency and interact with the layers below to produce exciting new
images and colors.
images and colors.
Kinds of layers
In a typical PhotoPlus image—for example, a photograph you've scanned in, a
new picture file you've just created, or a standard bitmap file you've opened—
there is one layer that behaves like a conventional "flat" image. This is called the
there is one layer that behaves like a conventional "flat" image. This is called the
Background layer, and you can think of it as having paint overlaid on an
opaque, solid color surface.
opaque, solid color surface.