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Since Elements doesn't have the per-layer Blending Options feature, I'm wondering how other Elements users deal with this restriction.

Edit: this question was originally posted on photo.stackexchange.com but since I'm looking for a graphic design-oriented answer the question has been migrated here.

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Are you referring to blending modes like Multiply, Screen, Overlay and so forth? – MikeW Feb 26 '12 at 7:30
No, I'm referring to that dialog where you can enable Drop Shadow, Bevel/Emboss and other effects on a layer. This? – Pieter Feb 26 '12 at 13:01
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Ah. I never realised the menu says Blending Options, but those are what are more commonly referred to as Layer Styles. What version of Elements? It seems version 9 has layer styles. – MikeW Feb 26 '12 at 17:47
Never mind, sorry, I see in your title you specified version 10. – MikeW Feb 26 '12 at 18:32
Can you explain how you are wanting to use this in the context of photo editing? Usually effects like drop shadows or bezels are more about graphic design, and you might get more help if we migrate this question to the Stack Exchange site for that. (It's also the answer the the question of why Adobe might have left this out of the more photo-focused Elements.) – mattdm Feb 27 '12 at 13:08
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migrated from photo.stackexchange.com Feb 27 '12 at 22:05

2 Answers

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Photoshop Elements 9 has layer styles under the Window > Effects menu. See this article here How to Add Shadow and Glow Effects in Photoshop Elements 9

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This answer the question about layer effects, but the original question is talking about layer blending. So confused. ;) – DA01 Feb 28 '12 at 1:17
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The way users deal with or workaround it is by using what few effects are built in as MikeW mentioned. You can manually create some of the effects with some work. Like painting a drop shadow and blurring and lowering the opacity but this can be difficult and time consuming.

You could look at GIMP to try some effects that you cannot achieve easily in PSE.

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While Gimp is very powerful, it also doesn't have this particular feature. I didn't put it on my list of photography-related things missing from Gimp because it's really a design and image creation feature rather than a photographic tool. From the roadmap, I see that (like adjustment layers) it's targetted for Gimp 3.2, which is probably several years off. – mattdm Feb 27 '12 at 12:50
@mattdm - I did not know that. I looked at GIMP early on but already was into PS and did not use it anymore. Thanks for the info. – Lynda Feb 27 '12 at 20:15

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