New camera, could use some photography advice

[Goodspeed]

Oh and Goodspeed, could you possibly explain how to layer things in photoshop like how you make those signatures for forums? Is it difficult?

Its not easy, but it gets easier and quicker to do over time

For an example, my most recent one...



The 3 main parts were each opened seperately in PS, with one blank canvas of a predetermined size (800x200 for example) as a 4th window.

I used the gradient tool (I think) to make the fading dark blue gradients to help unite the two background pictures...I do this a lot cause its clean and classy.

I then used the selection tool (magnetic lasso if the desired portion had straight borders, regular old "blob" tool for the rest) to select what I wanted. This can take a long, long time to get it all, I usually zoom all the way in and use the selection tool at 1 or 2 pixels in the nooks and crannies cause I'm really anal.

From there its just a matter of Layer>Create new layer via copy and then select that new layer and Edit>copy and Edit>paste into the blank canvas. Background first obviously, then the top image, some text and a border and you're done. Thats how I usually do it. Its by no means the "correct" way, if there even is one, and I don't know, maybe I'm doing it the really hard way and I just don't know any other way. Good luck and give it a shot!