Photoshop noob questions

[JohnL]

I have just purchased photoshop and have been a Gimp user for some time. I am by no means a guru on images....however that may change...

A couple of questions that I am struggling to find answers for:

The layer palette. How can I get that to appear or should it always be there when I create a new layer? On Gimp you have the option to show the layer window.

If you create an image and then save it, and then reopen it at a later date, are you able to still edit the layers or is this not possible as they are all now mergered?

The color picker. I have attempted to use the color picker with little success. What I am trying to do it to find a awya that you can use the tool to hover over a image and then PS then tells you what color that is so you can match it for other projects. I can find the tool but it does not give the color (like Gimp does).

Use the color foreground and background....when you attempt to change the color background, it works fine but if you want to change it back to a color that you used 3 steps ago, there is no real history.

I do not want to compare to much between Gimp and PS I am only trying to provide some comparisons to make the questions a little clearer.

I appreciate any help you may be able to provide.

JL

 

[decatur]

some answers

Hi,

F7 or View menu> layers to get layers palette.

you can still edit layers when you reopen the file, as long as you saved it as a layered file. Usually it's best to save one .psd with all the layers and then flatten for .jpegs and tiffs

you can use the eyedropper tool to pick a colour out of an image, and keep it as a swatch.

you can really, alas, only go back to previous colour arrangements by going back in the history palette. But once you're there you can grab up the colour and save it. You can also plan ahead and save the colours you're working on before you go on working and altering them.