Beginner Basics - Photoshop

More fun and games!

In the layers palette, you will notice a drop down menu on the left hand side with a whole lot of alternative filter effects. These are the Layer Modes, there is nothing taboo about using these ones ;)

Layer modes are pretty complex creatures and this is my attempt at explaining them..... This is the part that relies on playing and experimenting rather than teaching, because it's up to you, depending on what you want to achieve. There is a lot of trial and error involved.

Each mode can interact with the layer beneath it and that effect and interaction is further enhanced by the opacity and stacking order of that layer. Sometimes duplicating layers (by dragging it to the little page icon on the bottom right of the palette) and giving the new layer a different layer mode and opacity also creates tremendous effects. Layers can also be dragged into new positions in the layer stacking order.

Here are some general pointers on how I would tackle it...

Leave the original background layer at the bottom of the layers palette locked and on, you can always choose whether it is needed in the final image or not.
Work from the bottom upwards.
I always start off by toggling the layers that I am not working on, to off.
Remember that the darker more intense layers need to be at, or near the bottom in the stacking order, so as not to overpower layers above it.
When moving onto another layer, leave the one that you are happy with toggled on so that you can see how it interacts with the new layer modes that you are working on.
Remember that some of the more transparent layer modes like 'multiply' and 'overlay' can remain at 100% when interacting with the layer below, no matter where they are in the stacking order it makes sense to keep them closer to the top.
The more opaque solid layer modes need to be toned down with the opacity slider or shunted down in the layer stack, so that they don't overpower layers above it.
Create as many layers as you feel are necessary. The sky is the limit regarding the number of layers you can have (I lie, your computer memory is actually....;) .
As you fiddle with various modes and opacity, toggle the seeing-eye on and off - if the change to the image isn't obvious, then the layer is useless, either change it's position in the stacking order, toss it (by dragging the layer to the dustbin icon on the very bottom of the layers palette), or try a different mode and opacity.
Make use of the 'history palette' while you are experiementing, to backtrack steps if you feel that you need to return to a previous version that you preferred.