Digital Toolbox: Back to Basics

Digital Toolbox: Back to Basics

2. To change only that little flower, we'll paste it onto its own layer. In the next step, we'll add a new transparent layer on top of the Background layer. Picture the transparent layer as a piece of clear acetate that we'll place over our picture. But first, hit Ctrl + C to copy the part of your image you selected with the Lasso.

3. Now make that transparent layer. Just click the New Layer button, which looks like a sheet of paper with one corner folded over (circled). In Photoshop, it's at the bottom of the Layers palette; in Elements, it's at the top. See how your new layer (automatically named Layer 1) is highlighted? That means anything you do to your image will happen only on that layer. Paste your selected flower into this layer by hitting Ctrl + V on your keyboard.