Sparkle trail effect--SOS

[Angel]

LOL... I feel like such a blonde.. I am here w/ a new question everytime I turn around.
Anyway, the sparkle effect is the project for today... I am moving smoothly thru the quick class tutorial til I come to the blur part. When I blur, my entire star is not being blurred, just the last stroke I made. What am I doing wrong?
I am using PS 7. Thx everyone!
~Angel :confused:

[Emma]

Sounds like you're only blurring one layer of the star. What tool are you using to make it? Brush, Custom Shape...? Are you putting each stroke on a separate layer? If so, either merge the layers and blur the whole thing, or use Ctrl-F on each layer to repeat the filter.

Give me some more info so I know exactly where it's going wrong, especially layers info!

And we're here for QUESTIONS! I didn't really have a place to go when I was learning, leaned on my sister a lot, so I love this place for quick answers! Ask all you want!

[Angel]

Hmmm... I think I am using only one layer, but who knows what I am really doing.... lol. I was going to try to blur each stroke but figured it couldn't hurt to ask. I will try merging and see what happens. Lets see, did I answer your questions? If not, let me know...
~Angel

[Angel]

Ok ... the only option I had that wasn't grayed out was merge visible, which I did, and it seems to have worked. How is merge visible different than the other options? and will that work?
~Angel

[Emma]

Now I'm stumped, because I don't know how many layers you had to start with!

Merge Visible merges all layers that have an eye icon next to them (click the eye to make the layer invisible, click it again to make it visible).

Merge Down just merges the layer you're currently ON with the ONE layer below it.

Flatten merges everything to one layer (which Merge Visible will do if everything is visible).

Merge Linked merges all layers that are linked with the layer you're currently on (click the little empty square next to the eye on a layer you're NOT on, and a link will appear; then you can move and resize or copy layers styles to things as one layer without merging, can't run filters on linked layers at the same time...too bad!)

Too much info? I just need to know how many layers you had. You should have a white background with a black star on ONE layer above it.

If you hit print screen while in Photoshop it will take a "photo" of your screen. Ctrl-N for a new document, Ctrl-V to paste, crop to just the layers palette, save for web, and attach the file here so I can see what you've got!

But the real question is: did you get the star brush made?

[Emma]

Oh, I also would love to know if your error is a result of bad tutorial instructions so I can fix it. Is there something with the layers or blur that I should amend?

Thanks!

[Angel]

I assume I drew the star strokes on a single layer cuz I didn't click for a new one @ any point... on the other hand it seemed to work when I merged them, apparently all the necessary layers were visible. Yes, the good news is I got a brush I am pleased with :D
Working thru the rest of the tutorial now...
Oh dang, I must have really been having a blonde moment--I could have looked in the layers palette to see how many I had. No I don't think it was a bad tutorial... I assume I was doing something to gain layers when I originally drew my star.
Thx for your patience. I will probably be back soon :p