Layers???

[Suz]

I'm trying to make layers out of a photograph. I just don't understand how this layering thing works. Can anyone help me, please!!!! Thanks

[Zamber]

Layers are very simple so take it easy
Open the layers window, now the fun begins!
Click on the Help button and get famillar with the interface.
Imagine a pile of transparent pages. One on a nother. Now a one layer represents a one page of our pile, if you get the layer name higher in the list, you get our page comparable higher in the pile .
Check out Eggs video tutorials http://www.talkgraphics.com/showthread.php?t=21893
Here you have a little example http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/656/layersnk1.jpg (80kb)

[Egg Bramhill]

Hi Suz,

I'm trying to make layers out of a photograph.

I'm not sure what you're asking here. A photograph is a single item. It can only reside on one layer. Perhaps you could explain what you're after in more detail.

[-=Drifter=-]

to me it sounds like she would like to separate the photo itself into individual layers - which isn't really possible... unless you personally take it apart and make your own layers

[Suz]

Sorry - I'm not explaining well.

Here's what I want to do.

I have an actual photo uploaded into Xara.

I want to "turn it into" a comic-like or self-portrait image that I can ultimately either screen print or make an iron-on to put on a t-shirt or other things.

I see lots of people have done this wonderfully and I just can't figure it out!

Maybe layers isn't what I'm actually looking for...I'm just confused!!!

Thanks!

[stratocast]

If I understand correctly, layers are what you need.

1. Open the Layers palette.
2. Import the photo (it will appear on layer 1). Give it a suitable amount of flat transparency using the Transparency Tool and make the layer visible but uneditable
3. Create a new layer above or below (personal preference) the photo layer and make it visible and editable.

The new layer will be your working layer and you can then use all of Xtreme's tools to recreate the photo in your preferred style, with the original image as a reference. When you want to export your drawing to an image file or print it out, just make the photo layer invisible (or make it a background layer) before you do so and only your drawing will be exported/printed.

I hope this all makes sense.

[Kman]

Hi, Suz. See my crude example in the pic below.
Say you wanted to draw someone's head. You
could set up several layers, focusing on a certain
aspect of their head on each layer. For example:
layer 1 could be just the face shape, layer 2 just
the eyes, layer 3 just the mouth, and layer 4
just the hair. When placed together, the seperate
layers form, as a composite, your overall picture.

When you click on the Layer gallery Tool, each layer
has two small icons to the left of the Layer name.
The eye icon is visibility, allowing you to turn "on" or
"off" each layer's visibility. The arrow icon beside it
is to "lock" the layer, so no changes can be made,
or to "unlock" it, allowing you to add/edit what's on
that particular layer.

If you right mouse click on the Layer name and choose
"Properties", you can change the Layer name, plus
the layer's visibility and editableness (I doubt that's a
real word. )

Most folks use several layers to compose their pictures,
seperating the component "parts" of the image to different
layers.

I suggest you upload a xar file of a portrait (or any
object) that you admire, and use the Layer Gallery Tool
to examine each layer individually. Many such files are
included in the software and many found on this site as
well.

I hope this helps.

Ken

[Suz]

Thanks for your replies

However, I STILL don't understand how to use this stupid layering thing! I'm so mad !

Once I click the layer button, name it, I can't seem to see how to make any changes to make a layer????

How do I use this transparency button? When I click on it and run it across my picture, it just makes it invisible or cloud-like. Then what????

[Suz]

Anybody want to try to layer my picture and then maybe I can figure out how to do it myself? I'd really appreciate it...

[Egg Bramhill]

Suz,

You have to draw each element yourself in each layer, the layers wont do it for you. CLICK HERE to view a tutorial on how to do it. (It's an Illustrator tutorial but the ideas the same)

Meanwhile attach your photo here and we'll see what the members can come up with.