Both Adobe Photoshop and ImageReady let you isolate different parts of an Image on layers.
     Each layer can then be edited as discrete artwork, allowing unlimited flexibility in composing and      revising an image.

    Learn how to do the following:

• Organize your artwork on layers
• Create a new layer
• View and hide layers
• Select layers
• Remove artwork on layers
• Reorder layers to change the placement of artwork in the image
• Apply modes to layers to vary the effect of artwork on the layer
• Link layers to affect them simultaneously
• Apply a gradient to a layer
• Add text and layer effects to a layer
• Save a copy of the file with the layers flattened

                             
                          ** Save this Image to your computer and name it GoldenGateBridge.**

     Note: New images are created as Background when opened in Photoshop in the layers Palette.

•  Working in layers is like placing portions of the images on pieces of clear plastic sheets in layers, so you are able to edit parts(layer) of the image without affecting the other layers.
• Click here to Save the images that you will be adding to the GoldenGateBridge,                           Pictures.

• By creating new layers or converting selections into layers.
• By converting a background to a layer or adding a background to an image.
• By placing, dragging and dropping, or pasting selections or entire images into the image.
• By creating type using the type tool.
• By using the shape or pen tool to create a new layer that contains a layer clipping path.

-From Adobe Photoshop 6.0 online Help-

     Open Image--Go to File>Open -" GoldenGateBridge."

     Now in the layers palette >Left click and Drag the background layer to the new layer button on the      bottom of the palette. Or you can right click on the background layer and create a new layer.

     Right click on the Copy Layer you just made of the background in the layers palette and Left click      on LayerProperties and call it WorkingCopy.

     Now go to File>Open the 3 images that you saved to your computer, minimize LadyLib, and      Lincoln for know. Keep the World image up to work on next.

     Next use the Elliptical marquee tool to select just the world and to get rid of the black      background.( When using the Elliptical marquee tool you can hold down the shift key and left      click to use a circular selection instead of and oval selection).
         

     Now that you have selected just the World use Ctrl+C to make a copy of it or use selection tool
     on image Right click and choose Layer Via Copy and Left click and Drag on the Copy of the
      World image using the Move tool into the GoldenGateBridge image.

     Now place the World some where in the sky area it doesn't have to be exactly where mine is.     Then go to the layers palette and select the Opacity by left clicking on it and changing it to 50%.

     Now Maximize the LadyLiberty image to work on next.

• Use the Magnetic lasso to select just ladyLib, (this is a more difficult task so be patent, you will need to click many times to create anchors(those little squares) to select LadyLib.
• Did you make a copy of LadyLib in the layer palette and Rename it?
• Ctrl+C to Copy your selection or Right click >Layer Via Copy and Drag and Drop her using your Move tool to bring it into the GoldenGateBridge image.

     At any time you can change to order of the layers by Drag and Dropping it, to better understand      this use the Move tool and Drag LadyLib over the top of the World. As you can see LadyLib is on      top of the World and the background,so

• Go to the Layers palette and left click on LadyLib and Drag it below the World layer and let go, now the World layer should be on top of the LadyLib layer. Look at your image, is the World on top of Lady lib, if it is you now know how to move layers in the layers palette.
• The other cool feature in the layers palette is the ability to hide a layer if you want to by left clicking on the eye. When the layer is hidden this gives you the ability to work on a layer or layers and not have the image that is hidden in the way of your work.(Change layers back when your done playing by clicking on the eye icon.)

      Now select the LadyLib Layer, then go to Edit>Free Transform(or Ctrl+T) Or Transform>Rotate or      Scale, depending on where you want to locate the LadyLib. I use both Scale and Rotate and the      Eraser to finish her in her new location.

Setting layer blending options

   The blending options in the layer Style dialog box ( Photoshop) and the Layer Options palette (ImageReady)    let you change a layer's opacity and blending with the pixels underneath.

   Keep in mind that a layer's opacity and blending mode interact with the opacity and mode of the tools you
   use to paint and edit the pixels on the layer. For example, suppose you are working on a layer that uses the    Dissolve mode and an opacity of 50%. If you paint on this layer using the paintbrush tool set to Normal mode    with an opacity of 100%, the paint will appear in Dissolve mode with a 50% opacity because this is the    maximum the layer can display. On the other hand, suppose you are working on a layer created using
   Normal mode and 100% opacity. If you use the Eraser tool with an opacity of 50%, only 50% of the paint will    disappear as you erase.

-From Adobe Photoshop 6.0 online Help-

     Now Maximize Lincoln's image and again we need to select Lincoln and not the background, Use      the Lasso Tool, and the Eraser Tool to complete the task. How much to select is up to you, you      can see what I selected.

     Next Drag Lincoln into the GoldenGateB image, deside where you want to place him. Clean him      up if you need to, I used the Eraser to finish him up and the FreeTransform to scale him down.      Then I used the Elliptical Tool + Shift to make a circle, Then the paint bucket to fill it in. Drag and      drop in the layers Palette the circle to copy it. Use the Move Tool to Drag the copy to the other      side of his face. Click on the new layer button to create a new layer and I used a number 3 paint      brush to add the stems on the sun glasses.

     Adding a gradient to a Layer

     Next we are going to create a new layer below Lincoln's layer and add a gradient effect to it, this      will affect any layer below it. I chose a sunspot texture for my color in the styles tab in the color      palette.
                                 

      Adding text

     Last, but not least is adding text, First click on the Text Tool . Then above it is the Text Bar which      gives your choices of font, size, center and so on.
              

     Type some thing on the image "I used, Make sure you use sun screen". I used all the above      settings.
                                            

For the Web: Ensuring Readability On-Screen

   A monitor's resolution is much coarser than what even the least expensive inkjet or laser printer can produce,    so a common publication-preparation problem to avoid is hard-to-read type. Text that looks fine on paper    often does not look good on-screen. Fortunately, since you design electronic publications on-screen, you get    a very good idea as you create your publications how readable their text is. Just be sure to check the    on- screen text at actual size (if you have zoom in, you know it's too hard for your readers to read). Be sure to    proof the document in your browser so you will be able to view the same text quality that your readers will see.

   Here are some basic guidelines for choosing readable typefaces for on-screen use:

   Typeface selection: Choose a simple font designed for on-screen use. Sans serif Typefaces usually work    better on-screen than serif faces. Because a monitor cannot easily reproduce the serif font's details. Serif text    is generally easier to read in printed documents because the serifs give more visual clues on what letters are    being used. (Serifs are those little bars and curves that extend from the ends of letters; "sans" is French for    "without," so sans serif means "without serifs.") Sans serif font with subtle changes in the characters' stokes    (the lines and curves that comprise a character) are usually as hard to read on-screen as are serif fonts, so    be cautious about using delicate sans serif fonts for on-screen publications. Instead, consider squared,    simple serifs and even-stroke serifs in online publications, using fonts specifically designed for on-screen    viewing whenever possible.

   Text size: Use larger sizes than what you would use in print. Typically, use12-point type for body text in    electronic publications. Remember that fine differences in point size are difficult to distinguish on-screen, so    avoid sizes like 11.5 and 13 points--they are too close to 12-point type.

   Text spacing: Use more leading (line spacing) online than in print. Instead of the common 2 points of extra l   eading for prints, use 4 or 6 extra points for on-screen publications. So, for 12-point text , you would ideally    have 16-or 18- points leading on-screen.

-From Adobe Photoshop 6.0 online Help-

   Layer styles are composed of one or more layer effects. You can apply layer styles to layers in any image.    Once you apply a layer effect to a layer, you have created a custom style composed of that single effect. You    can use a layer style either to replace all of the current layer effect applied to a layer, or to add layer effects    while preserving the existing layer effects. After you have applied a layer effect, you can customize it. You can    also save the resulting layer style for ease of reuse.

   Layer styles are composed of a combination of one or more of the following effects:

• Drop Shadow to add a shadow that falls behind the contents on the layer.
• Inner Shadow to add a shadow that falls just inside the edges of the layer contents, giving the layer a recessed appearance.
• Outer Glow and Inner Glow to add glows that emanate from the outside or inside edges of the layer contents.
• Bevel and Emboss to add various combinations of highlights and shadows to a layer.
• Satin to apply shading to the interior of a layer that reacts to the shape of the layer, typically creating a satiny finish.
• Color, Gradient, and Pattern Overlay to overlay a color, Gradient, or pattern on a layer.
• Stroke to outline the object on the current layer using color, a gradient, or a pattern. Its is particularly useful on hard-edged shapes such as type.
  

     The preset layer styles in the Styles palette, Styles pop-up palette (Photoshop), and the style library are      composed of on or more of these layer effects and typically have been customized to create a specific      result.

-From Adobe Photoshop 6.0 online Help-