how do i make a specific file a layer in adobe photoshop?

Question

some body please help me with adobe photoshop cs2. how do i make a specific picture a layer and how do i add it to another specific layer (background i guess)? i have read the help files that came with the software and i purchased photoshop cs2 for dummies. i am completely new to photoshop and cannot find anywhere in any tutorials or help files EXACTLY how i assign a file as a layer that can be put together with another. maybe im stupid or illitterate but it's so aggravating to pay that much for a software i can't barely use. anyways if someone could explain to me as simply as possible i would be so thankful

Answer 1

Photoshop is extremely frustrating to learn! Things that you think should be basic and easy to do seem extremely complex, until you finally learn the program, and it all makes sense.

So, I'll cut to the chase. Here's how I'd do what you're wanting to do (I'm self-taught, so there may be a better answer for this):
1. Open the file you want to use as a layer (will call this one 'A')
2. Save it as a photoshop document
3. In your Layers toolbox, double click on the box that says 'background' - this will turn the entire image into a layer.
4. Open your other file - we'll call it 'B' (leave the first one open)
5. Move your two open files around so you can view both of them at the same time.
6. Click in your A file, then click on the arrow tool (upper righthand tool)
7. Click on the picture A and drag it into B. This will automatically add the picture into B as a new layer.

Save B as a new Photoshop file so you don't mess with your original.

Layers can only be preserved in Photoshop documents, so the image will be flattened if you save it as a .jpg or .tiff

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Well it really depends on what you type of picture you are tying to make in to a layer, and why you want to add the layer to one another. One thing that I do is that I get rid of the part of the picture from one layer that i do not want by duplicating it, and then selecting the layer by using the magic wand or something. Then cutting what I have selected out, and then deleting every thing that I do not need (the background that I just cut out and the locked layer). Then doing the same thing for the other layer and then dragging one layer to another. That is one way that I do it.

Answer 3

if you have a PSD file with a single Background layer. double click on that and hit OK. wolla the background is converted into layer. to make a new empty layer use 'CRT+SIFT+N'.

mail me if you still have problems.

Answer 4

click on the "new layer" button in the bottom right corner of the LAYERS floating window.. now jus keeping that layer selected.. jus drag the file into the workspace...