PE2: Using a duplicate or a new layer?

[Richard Hirschman]

Another newbie question concerning PE2: I am a bit confused as to when you use a duplicate of the background layer or a new layer. For example, if I want to sharpen, blur or tint on a new layer, when and why would I choose to do these operations or other operations on a duplicate (of the background) layer or on a new layer?
Thanks.
Richard Hirschman

[Chuck Snyder]

Richard: A new layer is an empty layer, while a duplicate of the background
has the same image information as the background layer. To blur or sharpen,
you need to have some pixels present in the layer; therefore, blur and
sharpen won't do anything with a New (Empty) Layer. On the other hand, you
can fill a New Layer with a color, change it to Color Mode and tint the
underlying image. Depends on what you want to do...

Chuck

[Richard Hirschman]

Hi Chuck,
Thanks for your patience with my naive question. "Of course that's it," I said to myself after reading your answer but for some reason it didn't click before I read it. It's all new to me and your answer helped orient me.
Thanks again.
Richard

[Nancy S]

Richard,

Not terribly related, but...you might want to try using the Unsharp Mask with amount around 10-20 and radius around 30-50...this global contrast increase really adds snap to some images, try it with the layer in luminosity mode.

[Nancy S]

Richard,

You not only have 'an inquiring mind' and a sharp intellect, you are very thoughtful. Personally, I find your questions very thought provoking.

Nancy

[D. Brinkmann]

Nancy...I tried your "recipe", unsharp-etc, and it is wonderful!!! Tested on several images...it adds a sparkle-snap just like you said it would!

Thank you so much...Dorothy

[Nancy S]

Dorothy,

Glad it worked out for you too :)

Nancy