Need instructions..layers

Question

In searching for more instructions for my new PhotoShop Touch it referred me to this forum.  Can anyone direct me to a thorough explanation of what all I can do with layers?  I'm hoping that say three layers each with a semi transparent state can each be given an effect or adjustment then blended together.  At present when I try this without knowing what I'm doing, one seems to just cover up the other.  I am wanting to experiment with taking a b&w of the same photo and blend it with a color or take one photo that has been blurred and mixing it with one with sharp focus.  Can this even be done?

Answer 1

jbphotog wrote:
Do you know what the merge buttons do?  The black buttons beneath blend mode?
Thanks for the help. I'm pressing everything and either getting nothing or a mess.  I simply want get say three layers of the same picture, make them somewhat transparent, two will have effects, one will not then blend them into one to get an enhanced new photo with an artsy look to it.  That does not seem to be that difficult but without a tutorial or manual I can get it to work yet.
"Merge Down" simply flattens a selected layer with the one underneath it. (This is the similar command available in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements.)
"Merge Visible" simply flattens all visible layers. (This is also similar to the command available in Photoshop.) You can hide and show layers simply by tapping the little dot in the upper left corner of the image in the layers panel. A hidden image is indicated by an exclamation point. ("!")
Three layers of the same picture:
Add the picture to your composition. Tap the plus sign in the layers panel (Luanne's image above illustrates this; it's right next to the layers button, to the right of it). Tap, "Duplicate Layer."
Do this one more time (for a total of three layers). Select the layer you want to apply effects to. Do your magic. Do the same for the other layer.
It's up to you where you want your original, unaffected image to be. I'd suggest the top of the layer stack if we're talking simple merges. If so, simply tap and drag the original image to the top of the stack. With the top layer selected, choose a blend mode as Luanne illustrated in her post. (I'd suggest "Multiply.")
Remember that layers are all relative. For example, if you set the blend mode of the top layer to "Multiply," it will only blend with the layer below it. In order for the third layer all the way at the bottom to come into play, the second layer must also be set to a different blend mode. (Try "Multiply." You'll notice that the top layer blends with the second layer, and then the top and second layer blends with the third layer.)
Experiment with other blend modes, like setting the second layer to "Overlay," with the top layer set to, "Multiply." You can also, of course, play with the opacity of each layer per Luanne's instructions.