Files cannot be opened

[Patti Nykamp]

I FEEL REALLY STUPID - I looked back through old posts, because I know I have had this problem before. What I want to do is move the pictures onto a CANVAS. I didn't use the contact sheet before. But I still don't remember how to use the canvas but can look back at old posts to see if I can find it, or if someone knows easily enough that would be great too. Does this make sense now?

[Nancy S]

Patti,

Go to File>New and create a blank canvas that is 8.5 x 11. Set the resolution to somewhere between 200-300 ppi (whatever most of your images are, assuming they are in a reasonable res. for printing). Now open one of the images you wish to print, check the res. of that image and if different from the res. you set for the blank canvas, change that image's res. WITHOUT resample checked. Using the control key on keyboard and the minus sign, you can shrink down the image to see the blank canvas underneath. Go to the Layers Palette and click and drag the image to the blank canvas and drop it (must be a flattened image, after dropping can go back in the history palette and go back to before you flattened the layers if need be.) Open image #2, check the resolution and drop on canvas and repeat for all images. Each image will be on its own layer on the canvas and there you can click a layer, get the move tool, click inside that image on canvas and drag anywhere to position it. You can rotate the images to fit better on the canvas if needed. Actually, if you just close each image after copying it to the canvas and when closing it answer 'no don't save changes' you will not have to backtrack in the history palette. Let us know if this works for you.

Nancy

[Patti Nykamp]

IT WORKED - Thanks so much.
I didn't know what you meant by layers palette and I couldn't find it. I went to help and it showed what it looked like, but I didn't see that on my screen. I have never useed the layer palette, does it do good things that I don't know about?
But I can now move pictures onto the canvas and print them out.
You guys are the greatest. Sure wish there was this kind of help with all the programs.
Thanks you so so much

[Nancy S]

Patti,

You're welcome, glad you got it worked out.

I think you said that you were able to locate and display the Layers Palette on your workarea. You really need it to show permanently on your screen (when you want all the real estate available for viewing, without any obstructions, just press the Tab key on keyboard and all 'extras' will disappear, pressing Tab again will restore them).

The power of the program is its ability to use layers. As you get more experienced with the program the importance of layers will be evident. The use of layers allows one to edit their images without changing the original. By keeping the original on layer #0 (all images come in with image called 'background layer', double click this layer in Palette and OK it = Layer#0 now)you can add layers above the original for all your edits. Layers allow you to change your mind as you work on your image; to either delete an edit (by deleting the layer) or change the parameters you used for a certain edit (like Levels).

With the Layers Palette open, double click the Background Layer, answer yes. Go to bottom of palette and click on symbol to add an adjustment layer, add a Levels Adj. Layer. Move the right and left tiny triangles inwards until they are just under the beginning and end of the histogram (graph), this greatly improves the tone in most images. Moving the middle triangle to the left, brightens the midtones, to the right it darkens them. This adjustment layer is just the tip of the iceberg as to what you can do to improve images. Tons of good tutorials on the internet.

[Nancy S]

Patti,

In case you had trouble finding it, the Layers Palette is shown as a Tab near the top of the workarea, called Layers. Hold onto the tab and drag it down the right side of screen and drop it. It should stay there.

[Nancy S]

Patti,

Check out this part of Jay's wonderful website about the program

<http://www.arraich.com/elements/ref/palette_layers.htm>

[Patti Nykamp]

Nancy, thanks so much. How did you learn all this? You said there were a lot of good tutorials on the internet. How do I find them. I was tempted to buy a CD on how to work PSE, but it was $30. It came in one of my emails. But I often find that people who have actually done the stuff have better information than a "manual".
Thanks again.

[Nancy S]

Patti,

I use Google, in the Advanced mode. My suggestion would be to enter:

for All Words = Photoshop
for Exact Phrase = (whatever tool or goal you need) ex; layers, selections, adjustment layers, improve contrast, gradient etc
for At Least One Word = technique, tips, tutorial

You will be swamped with hits from which to choose the ones best suited to your particular need. HTH

Nancy

[Nancy S]

Patti,

Oh, and I change the search to include 30 hits and choose English for language