how to use layer styles?

[bluelemur01]

hi guys,
I noticed that Anna Aspnes included a .asl drop shadow file in one of her freebies, but I don't know how to use it. Can someone direct me to a thread or give me a quick tip on how to open it/apply it? Thanks!

Jennifer

[Cassie Jones (1gr8muggle)]

What software are you using, Jennifer?

[bluelemur01]

I have Photoshop CS3. Thanks!
J

[Cassie Jones (1gr8muggle)]

Oh, good. Easy.

Go to your Styles Palette. (Window > Styles . . . although in CS3, I'm pretty sure it's docked on the right side).

Load it as a new style just as you would a brush. Click the little menu icon in the upper right corner and "Load Styles." Direct your system to the .asl file and that's it! Now when you target a layer, you can click on that style in the palette.

HTH.

ETA: You can also go to Edit > Preset Manager and change the drop down menu to "Styles" then load from there.

[Mary Rogers]

I am just learning about using styles in PSE - not so easy! another reason I need to start using and learning CS

[mugsbigsis]

Ok, So how about us using PSE6 Cassie? Tell me it's easy. . . pleeeeease.

[hguenthe]

Here are the instructions that Sara Horton posted for style actions for PSE6 on a Mac.. a minor adjustment and believe it works for .asl files

Originally Posted by Sara Horton

Here are the instructions for PSE6 and Mac:

Put the action file (.atn) in this folder:
Macintosh HD\Library\Application Support\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\6.0\Photo Creations\Photo Effects\

The Library file is the MAIN library folder, not the one in the system folder and not the one in your user folder.

Start PSE.

Access the actions in the actions palette under SHOW ALL.

If your new actions do not show up at this point, you can try the following.
Close PSE.
Go to the following directory, find the file MediaDatabase.bd3 then rename it MediaDatabaseOLD.bd3.

Macintosh HD\Library\Application Support\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\6.0\Locale\en-US

Open PSE again.
This will cause PSE to rebuild the database (but you'll have the OLD version as a backup anyway.)

Instead of:

Put the action file (.atn) in this folder:
Macintosh HD\Library\Application Support\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\6.0\Photo Creations\Photo Effects\

Do:
Put the style file (.asl) in this folder:
Macintosh HD\Library\Application Support\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\6.0\Photo Creations\Layer Styles

[bluelemur01]

thanks, Cassie!

[mugsbigsis]

and thank you, Heather (and Sara)! :O)

[AllynD]

But what about an .asl file?????

[Cassie Jones (1gr8muggle)]

Originally Posted by AllynD

But what about an .asl file?????

What do you mean? That's the type of file everyone is talking about, right?

LMK.

[AllynD]

Cassie--

In Sara's description she is talking about an .atn not an .asl file. I tried what Heather said, too.

It did not work for the .asl file that came with Anna's Curled Edges.

Confused,

[P.S., I give up. I can't make it work and I have really tried]

[hguenthe]

Lynn, it seems to work for some but then some have to go an extra step it seems and adjust the metadata on the file.

In this thread jphutc lists near the bottom that extra step that she had to do to get it to work.

Good luck!

[AllynD]

AH! Heather, you genius! Thank you!

It finally worked!

[hguenthe]

Yay! Glad to hear Lynn.

jphutc found the fix, I just remembered where to look for that thread... which is a feat in itself these days... memory seems to shrivel when not used.

[Debbyo]

There's an easier way, at least in PSE, (but I think it works in PS as well) all you have to do is use the Graffi Add-O-Matic. It will put styles, actions, shapes and patterns into their proper locations just by one click. I use it all the time and have a zillion "styles", "actions", "shapes" etc. loaded. Add-o-Matic is available at graficalicus.com. But I have learned something in this thread, I didn't know that you could load them like a brush...who knew? Oh yeah, CASSIE of course!!!!

[cheska99]

The Graffi Add-O-Matic! It's so Lucille Ball, so 1950s. I love it. Now I'm off to find out what it can do for me. By the way, I'm really impressed at how much top-grade knowledge sharing goes on at this site. Beautiful thing. You're great companions for the digital journey.

[AllynD]

Thanks, but it is for Windows only, though, and I was talking PSE 6.0 for Mac. Nothing could make me go back to Windows....

[Amy L]

Originally Posted by AllynD

Thanks, but it is for Windows only, though, and I was talking PSE 6.0 for Mac. Nothing could make me go back to Windows....

I'm with you there, Lynn.

[hguenthe]

Ditto... like they say (not sure who they are but I am with them)... once you go Mac, you never go back

[cheska99]

Actually I did go back to Windows. I had to use it for business and couldn't stand dealing with two operating systems, so when I had to upgrade my personal computer I switched to Windows. Of course, I hate it--especially since I'd been a Mac user since the very first Mac in . . . 1985? Hard to go to Windows after 19 years on the Mac. However, for what it would cost me to go back to Mac now (new computer, new Photoshop, etc.), I'd rather have the brand new Canon full-size sensor camera that produces pics with no noise at ISOs of 4000 or something! Not that I can afford either right now, but a girl can dream, can't she?

[kikimama]

Help, I'm still stuck!

I can get as far as the 'photo creations' folder, then I don't seem to have a 'layer styles' folder. I've tried creating one, and putting the file in there, but it didn't work. What am I doing wrong?

It is PSE 6 for the Mac I'm using.

ETA: I looked further on the thread mentioned by Hguenthe, and found the answer, I needed to add a metafile for it too, glad this thread was here.