Help with PSE layers!

[woodlandstx]

I am brand new to digital scrapbooking and am only been working with PSE v.4 for about a week. I know enough to make myself really dangerous!

I am trying to create my first layout and I am unable to add layers. After I set my background paper, I add a new layer. When I try to add the picture in the new layer, the picture becomes the background and layer 1 disappears.

I have no idea what I've done. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Susan

[IslandPixels]

I wish I could be more helpful. I was really (who am I kidding, I still am) overwhelmed by PSE4. I suggest waiting for an answer here, from this helpful bunch. While you are waiting, look for tutorials.

ETA: Oh, oh, I think I *can* help. Reduce the size of the window your background paper is in. Make sure you have the move tool selected and then click and drag your other stuff in. (they should appear in the workspace (sorry, don't know correct terms yet) when you reduce the window size.)

[grandmalynnie]

I think I know what you are talking about. This had me tricked until I called my friend crying and she helped me. Are you dragging your photo onto the background??? Take the new item you want to add, highlight it (I use the move tool to highlight) then drag it over onto the background. This should help. If you are doing this, the other tyhing that might be happening is...you have the wrong window choice.To check this, go to Windows in your toolbar>Images>cascade. Sometimes it gets stuck in maximize mode and that can cause problems too. I hope this helps!

[Hom74]

HERE (http://www.digiscrappingtutorials.com/Index.asp?Type_ID=4) are some tuts that may be helpful for your program.

I would esp. check the 3rd file = "Creating your First Layout in PS Elements"

[katiescarlett]

This stumped me at first too. Here's what I do.

Open up your background paper. Then open up the photo, element, etc that you want next. The background paper will move into your photo bin and the new element you opened will appear in the work space. Click on the move tool and drag the photo DOWN from the workspace into the background paper in the photo bin. The photo or element will appear as layer one in your layers palette. Continue doing this until you have all your stuff in your background layer.

Hope that helps!