Corel PaintShop Pro Help | Using layers with photos

To	Do the following
Preserve the original image before making changes	Make a duplicate of the background layer by choosing Layers Duplicate. To work on the duplicate layer, make it the active layer by clicking it on the Layers palette.
Make color and tonal corrections	Use adjustment layers instead of changing the image directly. For more information about using adjustment layers, see Using adjustment layers.
Add text or graphics	Create text and graphics, such as lines and shapes, on vector layers to make them easier to edit. For more information about adding text, see Working with text. For more information about vector graphics, see Drawing and editing vector objects.
Create effects	Duplicate the background layer, apply an effect to the duplicate, and then blend the two layers by changing the opacity or blend modes of the layers.
Create a painting	Choose an Art Media tool from the Tools toolbar and mark the Trace check box on the Tool Options palette (an Art Media layer is created automatically). Use the Art Media brushes to create impressionistic effects.
Combine photos to create a photo collage	Open the photos that you want to combine and decide which image to use as your base image. Copy the other images into the base image by clicking an image, choosing Edit Copy, clicking the base image, and choosing Edit Paste As New Layer. Position each layer with the Move tool . Use the opacity setting and blend mode to control how much of each layer shows through. Use a mask layer to hide parts of a layer or to create soft edges around it.
Create a panoramic photo	Take a series of photos with overlapping subject matter. Create an image with a canvas large enough to display a panorama, and then copy each photo onto a separate layer. Decrease the opacity of one layer so that you can see through it, and use the Move tool to match up the edges of the next layer. After all layers have been positioned, return their settings to 100 percent opacity.

Preserve the original image before making changes

Make a duplicate of the background layer by choosing Layers

Duplicate. To work on the duplicate layer, make it the active layer by clicking it on the Layers palette.

Use adjustment layers instead of changing the image directly. For more information about using adjustment layers, see Using adjustment layers.

Add text or graphics

Create text and graphics, such as lines and shapes, on vector layers to make them easier to edit. For more information about adding text, see Working with text. For more information about vector graphics, see Drawing and editing vector objects.

Create effects

Duplicate the background layer, apply an effect to the duplicate, and then blend the two layers by changing the opacity or blend modes of the layers.

Create a painting

Choose an Art Media tool from the Tools toolbar and mark the Trace check box on the Tool Options palette (an Art Media layer is created automatically). Use the Art Media brushes to create impressionistic effects.

Combine photos to create a photo collage

Open the photos that you want to combine and decide which image to use as your base image. Copy the other images into the base image by clicking an image, choosing Edit

Copy, clicking the base image, and choosing Edit

Paste As New Layer. Position each layer with the Move tool

Use the opacity setting and blend mode to control how much of each layer shows through. Use a mask layer to hide parts of a layer or to create soft edges around it.

Create a panoramic photo

Take a series of photos with overlapping subject matter.

Create an image with a canvas large enough to display a panorama, and then copy each photo onto a separate layer. Decrease the opacity of one layer so that you can see through it, and use the Move tool

to match up the edges of the next layer. After all layers have been positioned, return their settings to 100 percent opacity.