Moving photos around with Layers is very easy, this exercise will show you how easy using Layers can be.

Get Flash to see this video.

Location:

Toolbox Icon:  Magic Wand ToolEraser ToolMove Tool

Lesson Files:

Sunglasses

(glassesproject1.jpg)

Fish

(glassesprojectfish.jpg)

Overview:

Open the two sample images, the images of the sunglasses and the fish.

Select the Magic Wand tool in the Toolbox and set a Tolerance of 40 in the Options Bar, then click inside the glass area of the sunglasses, this will select just the amber area.

Select the Eraser tool in the Toolbox and erase the amber area inside the sunglasses, thus leaving the checker board base of the transparent level.
Since we’ve selected the area we want to erase first, Photoshop will only allow you to erase what is inside that selection.
Once you are finished erasing, go up to Select > Deselect.

Select the Move tool in the Toolbox and click on the image of the fish and drag in into the image of the sunglasses.

Go to the Layers palette and click and drag Layer 2 to the bottom of Layer 1, this will move the image of the fish under the image of the sunglasses.
 
If you do not see your Layers Palette, go up to Window > Layers.

Make sure you have the fish layer selected in your Layers Palette then use the Move tool to adjust the image to the look you wish to achieve. Simply click on the image of the fish and drag it into position.

Keyboard Shortcuts:

• Shortcut to select the Magic Wand tool in the Toolbox is W

• Shortcut to select the Eraser tool in the Toolbox is E

• Shortcut to select the Move tool in the Toolbox is V

Learn More:

If you are creating a similar project like this with your own images, make sure when you are dragging layers in your layers palette, that none of your layers are named Background. Background layers are always locked, therefore you cannot move it. To unlock this layer, double click on the word Background in your layers palette and a dialog box will appear titled New Layer. The default name for this new layer will be Layer 0, you can name this layer whatever you like, or leave it at the default. Now you are free to move this layer wherever you wish within the Layers Palette.

Click here for more information on the Magic Wand Tool.

Click here for more information on the Eraser Tool.

Click here for more information on the Move Tool.