INTRODUCTION
Here we will use layers to create a “flower boat” with elf & shadow.  Create a folder on the Desktop named 282.  While viewing this lesson on the Web, drag Water, Flower and Elf into the 282 folder – (if necessary, restore the browser and move it to view pictures and folder).

OPEN PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS
Open Photoshop Elements > close the Welcome screen.  Open the Layers palette if it isn’t already open.

OPEN 3 PICTURES
Click the Open icon (upper left) > find the 282 folder on Desktop > select WATER + Open.  Move the picture to the right (leave room on left for next picture).  Click the Open icon > select FLOWER + Open.  Click the Move tool (top of Tools bar) > drag FLOWER anywhere on WATER > close FLOWER (“X” it out).    Repeat Open, Move and close for ELF.  Minimize the browser for later review of FINAL.

NAME THE LAYERS
Right-click the top layer name > name it Elf > press the Enter key.  Right-click the next layer name and name it Flower.  Right-click the bottom layer name and name it Water.

ERASE BACKGROUND OF FLOWER AND ELF
Click the name Elf (select this layer) > select the Magic Erase tool > erase all the blue areas.  Repeat for the Flower layer.

RESIZE AND POSITION FLOWER AND ELF
Select the Flower layer (click the name) > select the Move tool > hold Shift key as you drag the corner of Flower to about ½ the width of Water.  Release the Shift key and distort Flower by moving the lower center drag square up to give it less height (gives more an edge view than a top view) > move Flower to lower left of water (not on sand).  Select Elf > with Move tool selected, hold Shift and reduce the size of Elf to a size that will fit on a flower petal.

CREATE AN ELF SHADOW
Select the Elf layer > click More (top of Layers palette) + Duplicate Layer > name the layer Shadow > drag the name Shadow below the name Elf.  With Shadow selected, click Image + Rotate + Flip Layer Vertical.  Click Enhance + Adjust Brightness/Contrast + Brightness/ Contrast > move both sliders to the left edge.  Select the Move tool > drag the bottom center drag square up to reduce the shadow height to about ¼ size or less > rotate shadow > move the shadow into place (use the birds as an example of shadow size and position).

CROP FOR BEST EFFECT
Click the Crop tool and set to 11 X 14 (you might want to try vertical and horizontal layouts) > drag crop to size and press the Enter key > click the Undo arrow to try another crop.

CONCLUSION
Return to the browser and open FINAL.  Compare your creation to this one.  Hopefully, this lesson has given you some new ideas and how to implement them.

GOOD WEB PAGES
LEISURE VILLAGE: http://leisurevillage.us
LV COMPUTER CLUB: go to leisurevillage.us and select Our Computer Club
BILL'S HOME PAGE: http://bzus.com