overlay/vellum...difference? and more

[Leea]

I read Randi's question about making clear elements and want to follow up with a few more questions:

I want to take some flower photos, crop the flowers from the background of the photo, then add the flowers to a background paper and also an overlay to create patterned papers.

1. What is the difference between an overlay and a vellum (so far, my guess is an overlay is clear with designs on it and vellum has some color...but I don't know)

2. Can vellum have designs on it or does it them become an overlay....can an overlay have a overall color to it, like light blue or something or are overlays always clear?

3. I've read not to flatten layers because then they can't be undone and worked on more. Does making the thing I'm working into a jpeg (is jpeg and jpg the same thing?) image have the same effect as to flatten it...as in, once it's a jpeg image it can't be undone?

[Lauren]

Vellum is a physical - ie real - product - our "digital"vellum is a replication of that - its a semi opaque paperish product - it is the thickness of paper and although partially see through also casts a shadow . Overlays really are not replicating any physical product except perhaps rubons or printed transparencies ( which in effect are really a physical replication of a digital product !!!)
Vellum in real life comes with patterns textures and colour -
Overlays are less likely to have texture and probably dont have a shadow.
Neither Vellum nor Overlays can be jpgs as finished products as jpg does not support transparency. FInished Vellum and overlays must be saved as .pngs

[carlalee]

Excellent explanation Lauren! I had read Leea's question earlier and although I knew the answer in my head, I couldn't find out how to explain it in words. -c-

[Randi_01]

Very well put...I was confused on the subject as well....I still haven't figured out how to change the opacity but I understand it a little better...THANKS!

[carlalee]

Hi Randi - Here's a tutorial you can take a look at for creating vellum (http://digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/tutorials/ps_realisticvellum_lb.shtml). It may help to bring things into focus by having the pictures to go with the words. (Always helps me!) HTH -c-

[Leea]

Thanks :)