Please Explain Reasons for the Following...

[acroreef]

Dear Folks:
I am relatively new and am trying to obtain a solid conceptual grasp of the "when and why" to do the following in a typical workflow:

1). Copy the background layer
2). Add a new blank layer
3). Copy all layers and merge to the top
4). Copy the current image
5). Flatten the image

Why do one rather than another? When to use one rather than another? Anyone able to flesh out a good description that a novice could understand:banghead:?

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Dave

 

[Hoogle]

well to me that basically takes you in a circle you start with an image add absolutely nothing to it end result being exactly what you started with only thing that may vary is if you have transparant pixels in your image they will turn white, if you have layer effects they will be rasterized

 

[ibclare]

I don't follow the workflow concept you underlined. As Hoogle demonstrates. you appear to be doing essentially nothing, but you have not explained other actions you are taking. Is each of your points a separate question? When would you duplicate the BG? When would you merge things? When would you etc, etc? Color me confused . . .

 

[acroreef]

Sorry for not being more clear...

When I watch various tutorials, such as photo restoration, I'm not sure why the instructor chooses one method over another. For example, why copy the background layer instead of just adding a new blank layer? Why after several layers have been added do you copy all layers and bring to the top as a new layer?

So I guess I'm looking for a concise explanation as to why one would choose each of the actions instead of another. When would you just add a layer instead of copying the background layer? When and why would one flatten all layers. When and why would you copy all layers and bring to the top as a new layer?

Hope this clears up my original question.

Thanks again.

Dave

 

[hawkeye]

Many people make a copy of the background layer, which allows them to work on it and always have the original as a backup. Adding blank layers is part of non-destructive editing, all the changes made are on new layers so the background layer isn't altered.
The keys sequence shift+ctrl+alt+E will merge all the layers into a new layer, but it will leave all the original layers intact. This is part of non-destructive editing too. Merging and leaving the layers intact allows you to still make changes. If you flatten the layers, they are gone and you are 100% committed.

 

[MikeMc]

This question is a good example of how to learn PS. I made the mistake of using 3 or 4 different sources for tuts and video tuts. Thhe knowledge was 1 st rate, BUT every instructor uses a different workflow...many times for different end results, you need to use a different way. PS has so many tools, and tricks, and ways to do things.

After I looked around I followed Scott Kelby and his workflow ideas to get settled down. Worked good for ME.

Look at all your different topics, and google them...learn the ins and outs for all those ideas...I cheat, I have a copy of Kelby, and PS for Dummies, next to my computer read and learn....copies of images saved will bail you out if you OOPS!

 

[ibclare]

ditto, ditto, ditto.

Sometimes you may not want to merge all layers, but just a couple. One reason for doing this is to add a new effect or filter or maybe a mask which would work well on the merged layers and not on the two or three separate layers. Or maybe you want to transform them and you might not like the results, so you still have the original layers.

Like hawkeye said, it is mainly about being non-destructive, retaining your original work so you can always go back to it and try something else.

 

[acroreef]

Thanks again to all who have replied. Very helpful information.

Dave