what are layers?

[Semidevil]

so I've been playing with Gimp and the tutorials, and I made some pretty nice looking things. But without the tutorials, I would not know anything. So I have a question. In all the tutorials, they always say to make or duplicate the layer. The very first step.

So what is it actually? To me, I'm making an exact copy of the picture. and then, modify picture one, modify picture 2, and when I merge the layer, something beautiful comes up. I"m still not understanding the concept of layers?

when do I make a new layer? and when do I do everything on one picutre?

 

[jgbishop]

I'm not familiar with the Gimp, but I assume that "layers" are the same in both it and Photoshop. Think of layers like transparencies on an overhead projector. Each transparency can have different drawings on them. But, when you overlay them, they can combine to create a different picture (each one adding to the final result).

One transparency example I can think of is a map of the United States over the years. One transparency shows the original 13 colonies, another shows the states in the 1800s, etc. As you overlay the transparencies, you end up with the map of the US as it is today. Layers are just the same. Make sense?

 

[Semidevil]

I see...so bascially, if I merge 2 layers, the background wont clash right? because the background is clear...hm...ok, that clears a lot of stuff up.

thanx

 

[igowerf]

If the top layer has transparent parts, then you'll be able to see the background through it. Merging won't actually combine the colors in any way. It just combines the visible portions of the image.

 

[sandorski]

Layers are the shiznit! Imagine making a picture with a bunch of changes, then realizing at some point that a particular change totally ruined it. If you were using Layers and applied the certain Sucky change on its' own Layer, you can simply delete that Layer(or you could simply make it temporarily Invisible to see if it in fact Sucks or not) and all would be fixed. Layers also give you the ability to go back to a certain point in your work and change a part of it(providing you Save it in the proper Format, not sure what that would be for GIMP, but probably the Default Format) easily.