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New Layer Vs. Adjustment Layer


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dave393

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I'm just beginning to seriously try to learn the ins and outs of Photoshop Elements (Mac). Two things have come up:

1) I'm not clear about when I should use an ordinary "new layer" and when an "adjustment layer"; are there instances when either will work and others when only one will; and

2) I think I've come across something funny about using an opacity setting: Say I've used one of the brush tools and, then, toned things down by lowering the opacity. I then go on to save the photo and quit PE. Well, when I open that photo again, the opacity comes already set as it was before. I find this confusing, especially if I go on to do something else involving opacity. Somehow it makes more sense to me to always begin fresh at "100%".

Comments and suggestions are welcome.

Dave
 
I can only give you my own rules of thumb - your mileage may vary.

I add a new layer when I'm adding something new or covering something up - in other words making "major" changes to piece. I add an adjustment layer when I'm making changes to something that's already there.

For example, if I want to add a lens flare to a picture or put a cat in it or change the background, I use a layer. If I want to change the color of a shirt or change the brightness or add an effect I'll put in an adjustment layer.

The bottom line on layers is that the more you have the easier it is to change the individual elements.


The opacity issue sounds like either settings (unlikely) or some glitch in your program. When I change anything - including opacity - in photoshop and save the piece, when I open it again it's as it was when I saved it. The geeks on the board might have more to offer you but I would probably uninstall and re-install the program if you can.
 
Thanks Sierraccr. I'm going to test drive your "which layer" rule of thumb. It sounds like it works, always keeping in mind of course how the particularities of any project can shift things.

As for opacity, I want to be sure that I was clear enough. There's no problem in having the opacity "stick" to the photo when it's reopened. But, what I find is that the slider setting is also retained. (Is this what you thought I meant?) So, for example, if I'd set it almost as far left as it goes (for just a touch of the overlay), when I open the photo again the opacity slider is at its old position and so I don't have as much of a range of opacity to choose from. I may have confused what I've seen happen, but something like this.

Dave
 
The slider setting on the layers window should stay where you put it for each layer. The slider setting on the brush won't - it will default to 100%. At least mine does.
 
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