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resetpermalik · 4 years ago

Photo

Creating an Overlay for your Image

Using Photoshop

What is an overlay and why use one?

There are many edits which can be performed on an image, such as: resizing, cropping, color balancing, white/black/shadow adjustments, contrasting and more.

But you may need to place some text or a separate image over your original. In this case, none of the previously mentioned options are ideal solutions. If the goal is to superimpose one image atop another, some visual hierarchy is vital. So what does this really mean?

Well, as one image is set over the other, each of them may begin competing for the viewer’s attention. And if the objective is to emphasize the top layered image, this may prove difficult without a little work to guide the watching eyes. This is where our tool (the ‘overlay’) comes into use.

An overlay is a method available when editing or crafting multiple layered images. This technique can be used for a variety of effects: (such as) dimming the lower layers, creating texture or adding subtle tints to your image. So, how is this executed?

Creating your Overlay

When you enter photoshop, the splash page will welcome you and give you several options. Navigate to the left sidebar or to ‘File’. Now, open a preexisting document or create a brand new project.

Now you have your image before you or will need to create one with your photoshop tools. Either way, if you check the bottom right-hand portion of the screen, you can find a layer housing your image listed under the ‘layers’ tab. The layer in question will be shown as a banner with a thumbnail, the layer name and an eye to select or deselect it. If everything checks out so far, we can safely move on…

Navigate to below your ‘layers’ tab. Here, you will come across a discreet tool bar. The options presented are: linking layers, effects, masking, fill/adjustment layers, new group, new layer and the trash bin for deleting layers. We are after the ‘new layer’ tool. So, give that click.

Immediately after clicking the ‘new layer’ icon, you should see a second layer banner appear above your original. If you only began with one layer (initially,) then this new layer should be named ‘layer 2’ (with the same ‘thumbnail’ and ‘eye’ features as the rest.) Moving forward!

Although you have added a new layer over your first, your project should look exactly the same; this is because your new layer has no content. So, you can imagine the second layer existing over your first; however it is currently transparent. Let’s change that…

Before we get around to adding color to the new layer itself, we need first to choose a color of which we will use. For this task, check the bottom left of the screen (underneath the selection of tool icons.) Here you will find two sets of one square overlapping another. We’re after the larger set of squares. These two squares are both your ‘foreground’ and ‘background’ color selectors. Click the foreground (or left/top-most square.) You will be presented with a color picker — this is where you will choose what color you wish to fill your new layer. There will be several options in the color picker for how to specify which one you want. But, for our purposes, you can simply use your mouse to click and choose in the rainbow gradient before you. Onward!

Head to the left sidebar and find your ‘fill’ tool. The icon for the fill tool is a tipping paint bucket with a handle and a single drop leaving the rim. Beware, if you are having a bit of trouble locating this icon (as I did previously), there are multiple options paired with the fill tool. So, the icon housing the fill tool may be currently shown as the ‘gradient tool’ or ‘3D material drop tool’. Also, it should be made clear… in the 2021 version of Photoshop, the ‘fill’ tool is actually listed as ’paint bucket tool’. If you are having absolutely no luck in locating the fill tool, there is hope yet!Find the magnifying glass in the top right of your screen and click that. After selecting the ‘magnifying glass’, you will be presented with a ‘discover’ pop-up. This new screen will show a search bar where you may then search either ‘fill’ or ‘paint bucket tool’ — both should enable you to then click and begin using the fill tool.

So, you have now chosen a foreground color and are equipped with the ‘paint bucket/fill tool’. This next step is very straightforward. While ‘layer 2’ is selected in our ‘layers’ tab, single click your image with the fill tool and your new layer should take on your chosen color. It’s that easy…

And now that your second layer has taken on a new hue, we’re almost finished. Now we need to take that freshly painted layer and turn it into an overlay which no longer completely covers your first image, but instead enhances it. So, move back over to your (bottom-right) ‘layers’ tab.

Find your ‘opacity’ adjuster (while ‘layer 2’ is still selected.) You may now manually type a number percentage into the box next to opacity or click the drop down box (via the downward-facing arrow) to reveal a slider. Either will serve the same purpose, though the sliding bar may be a bit easier to use if you aren’t quite sure what specific value you want (right away.)

As you move away from 100%, your second layer will become more transparent (and, of course, vice-versa) — revealing your original image beneath. And that’s that. Fine tune it to your liking and continue to build further (or leave it as is and add a bit of texture to the layer if you simply want to create some character for the first layer itself.)

Conclusion

Adding an overlay is a great way to maintain effective layers, when stacked in multiples. It isn’t too difficult to learn this skill and then zero in on what will offer the best results. Just like with much of Photoshop, after you learn the basics and perform the task a few times, you should become fairly adept and make your projects that much more enjoyable and potent.

#Photoshop #overlay #imagelayer

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