PhotoShop 6.0 help needed, please--very basic question

[ima_sinnic]

I am a totally brand newbie on PhotoShop and just fiddling around with learning about Layers. Following a tutorial, I open a .psd image, rename Background to make into a layer, duplicate it and then rename (= Second). I want to flip this Second layer horizontally and should be able to select it in the Layers Palette, click Edit > Transform and then Flip Horizontal, but Transform Path is grayed out. What could be causing this?

[KitchenWitch]

1. Create a new layer from background

Delete the layer entitled background. Then flip the new layer...Photoshop will not transform backgrounds for some reason.

[ima_sinnic]

3. yes, I had renamed the background -- I did just get it to work

I was fooling around some more and selected the marquee tool, for one thing (can't remember what else I clicked on) and now Transform and other stuff are lit up on the Edit menu

:shrug:

thanks!

[Duer 157099]

2. Oh I know I'll regret this...

since I don't know anything about PhotoShop... lol

but a first guess would be: do you have to "promote" the background first? I know you duplicated it, but is it still designated as background?

(I work in Paint Shop Pro)

[ima_sinnic]

4. yes, you're right about the principle

I did have to rename the background.
I accidentally just got Transform to work now, by clicking the marquee tool.

[progressoid]

5. You don't have to rename it

unless you want to just the keep them seperate in your mind. When you dupe it, PS will call it "xxxxx copy" automatically. But that's beside the point.

Make sure you have the layer you want to work on highlighted, Then go to edit>transform>flip horizontal.