Photoshop Elements Canvas and Layers
Learn The Basics of Resizing and Improving Images in Adobe Software
Jul 29, 2009
Adobe Photoshop Elements photo and image editing software is aimed at consumers and non-professional designers, but some basic principles such as layers and the canvas must be understood before some of the most powerful functionality can be exploited.
An example of the problems that lack of understanding can cause is the frequent occurrence of messages like the following:
"Could not complete the Copy command because no pixels are selected"
An understanding of how layers work and selecting the appropriate layer would avoid this message completely. Additional basic knowledge about image size in terms of resolution and dimension will help to exploit Adobe Photoshop Elements functionality further.
What is The Difference Between The Canvas and The Image
The canvas can be described as a drawing board, or a container for the image. The image comprises a series of layers stacked on top of each other, which sit on the canvas.
The canvas size is set in terms of dimension (lengths such as inches, cm, mm, pixels).
The image sits on top of the canvas – usually it is exactly the same size as the canvas. However an important difference is that the image resolution (dpi) can be changed.
In Photoshop Elements 6.0, the different options can be seen by opening a file to display an image and from the menu at the top, selecting ‘Image’ ‘Resize’.
- ‘Canvas Size’ will allow the dimensions of the drawing board to be changed
- ‘Image Size’ will allow the dimensions of both the image and canvas to be changed together – and for the resolution to be changed.
If there is a requirement to add a number of images to the canvas, or if the canvas needs to be made bigger, without changing the size of the image (for example, if a border is required around a photograph, then Canvas Size should be changed.
The canvas size can be changed in many directions – extending to the right, to the left, up, down or proportionally all around the image. Once the canvas has been extended, the image will sit within the canvas with space around. If the canvas size is reduced, the image will be cropped to fit on the drawing board.
Image Layers
Every image in Photoshop Elements is made up of one or more layers, like pieces of paper stacked on top of each other with different parts of the whole image on each piece. For example:
- If a photograph has been scanned in, that will be one layer.
- If the canvas is then expanded, there is still one layer (the image layer, the size of the original photograph and smaller in size than the canvas).
- If text is then added to the canvas, then there are now two layers, the image and the text.
- If a graphic is added (a rectangle to go behind the text) then there will be three layers – the photograph, the text and the rectangle.
Image layers can be manipulated in a number of ways. The most basic are:
- Selecting the layer – click on the layer to select it (or use the layer palette, usually shown on the right of the screen).
- Layers can be moved around on the canvas (and can even be moved off the canvas in Photoshop Elements 6).
- Layers can be arranged in any order. This is the order they are stacked up in. The one on top is the front and the one at the bottom is at the back. From the menu at the top, select ‘Layer’ ‘Arrange’ to rearrange the currently selected layer.
- Layers can be stretched and rotated.
To work with a layer, make sure it is selected first.
No Pixels Selected Error Message
The No Pixels Selected error message occurs when the wrong layer has been selected. For example, if a text layer has been selected whilst drawing around part of a photograph, then the ‘copy’ command will result in this error – as no pixels on the text layer have been selected. To fix the error – select the correct layer (the photograph).
In summary, in Adobe Photoshop Elements the image comprises a series of layers, which sit on the canvas.
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