Layers and sections

[jc1]

Everytime I copy and paste a section it goes into a new layer . How can I get the sections all on the same layer?


And is there a screen capture tool in PhotoShop like in PSP?

 

[Welles]

Welcome to the forums jc1.

To merge the background layer with another layer you can use Layer > Merge Down or Layer > Flatten Image. A quicker solution would but to use the keystrokes Control (Command on a Mac) + E.

Photoshop does not include a screen capture utility.

 

[Sark]

You can capture the entire screen via Windows. Just press the Print Scrn key (next to F12). This copies the image to the clipboard. When you create a new document in PS, it will automatically be the same size as the captured image, just paste in and crop accordingly.

Sark

 

[jc1]

thanks people 8D

 

[Sark]

jc1

Maybe Welles has answered your first question but, if you are just making selections of parts of a layer, you can select the Move tool and drag the contents of that selection anywhere in the layer. This method cuts the selection contents from the layer. If you hold the Alt key when dragging with the Move tool, it will copy the selection contents. When you deselect the selection, the contents are flattened to the layer.

Sark

 

[Welles]

Good idea to mention that, Sark. You may well have a better answer and understanding of the question than I did.

 

[JoeD]

Everytime I copy and paste a section it goes into a new layer . How can I get the sections all on the same layer?

The beauty of layers is that you can separate the different elements in your image by placing them in layers. By merging these layers you'll have a lot less control over your image.

Let's say you draw a car. You have one wheel done. Why copy/paste this wheel on the same layer? Later on you might decide to move one wheel a tiny bit. This is a lot easier if you have each wheel on a separate layer.

Other example; you made something in Photoshop and now you want to use part of the design in another image. This can be difficult in some cases where you have merged too many layers.

These are just two examples, but I can come up with hundreds of different examples why someone should avoid to merge layers (unless there is a good reason of course).

And if you're frustrated with hundreds of layers in your layers palette; group them in layer sets (or nested sets). And btw, layer sets were not just invented to hide layers. More about that in this thread: http://photoshopgurus.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6417