Fixing photos/elements after layering

[Meg]

I've done a couple of LOs using your PSE tutorial and am trying to branch out on my own a bit. Do you have to do all cropping, etc. to photos before we start layering them onto the background? Every time I try to do additional "fixes", I end up erasing/cropping out everything else.

[melodiustenor]

I find that it is often best to duplicate the layer (the element or photo in it) and work on that... then if you make a mistake or don't like something it is easier to go back... there's also the step backward button to help you go back to what you had before...
Sometimes I have several copies of one thing and manipulate them different ways. You can delete layers you don't need later, or merge layers of effects you like etc...

[melodiustenor]

Also, I don't do anything to my original photos ... they stay as they are. I always work from a copy of the original. That way I can't do anything permanently wrong to it.

[Karen]

I've done a couple of LOs using your PSE tutorial and am trying to branch out on my own a bit. Do you have to do all cropping, etc. to photos before we start layering them onto the background? Every time I try to do additional "fixes", I end up erasing/cropping out everything else.

Meg I always do all of my manipulation to the photo before pasting it into the layout, much easier and also as Melodi suggests always work on a copy of your photo never the original :)

[Meg]

I do usually do most of my manipulation before pasting it in, but sometimes when putting everything together I need to "tweek" things. If I duplicate the layer, should I paste it into a new window to work on it, delete the old layers, and then repaste it into the LO? Thanks for your help!

[Emma]

I usually just crop the photos then paste them onto my layout. I make any adjustments surrounded by the background, usually close to the end of the layout. I usually have to crop more too, since I don't want to remove too much on the first go. I use the Marquee Tool to crop only one layer, as the Crop Tool crops the entire image.
I duplicate just the photo layer, mess with it, maybe several times, then keep just the one I want. This also allows me to blend the duplicated and altered photo layers to get some unique effects. Sometimes I merge the layers back into one photo layer, sometimes I leave them.

I'm not sure what you mean by cropping or messing everything up? If the photo is on its own layer, it shouldn't affect the things around it. Can you clarify?

Welcome to DSP! So good to have you! Make sure you hit the Beginner Chat this Friday nigth at 10pm Eastern in the chat room

[Margie]

it's fun to see how everyone does it differently isn't it?! i almost always do any cropping or playing after putting it in the layout. usually because i have no clue what i'll end up doing. but i do usually duplicate that layer before i start messing with it... but either way (or both) is fine, it's all personal preference. it's probably easier to crop to a specific size before you place it on the layout. if you know the size! anyone else do it specifically one way or the other?

[Meg]

Thank you! I hadn't been using the Marquee Tool, only the crop tool. That's why my entire image kept getting cropped. I couldn't figure out how to only crop one layer.

I'm enjoying the tutorials, thank you so much for all the help. I don't know about the Beginner Chat, I have two small kids and 10 pm is about where I start to lose my grasp on intelligence.