I'm not even sure if I'm on the right track, but here's the problem: I applied a layer style (inner bevel) to several layers of a LO. Looks fantastic. But when I merge all those layers or flatten my image, suddently the layer style looks weird/bad... instead of soft looking I now see dark and light bands of shadow/highlights.

Here's the weird thing, though, if I'm looking at my canvas at 100 percent/actual pixel size, nothing has changed! But if I'm at 25 percent or whatever I usually have it at so it fits on my screen, it looks different. (but when I print it looks bad)

So one option would be to make sure I have the effect I want at 100 percent, but that's hard b/c that looks so HUGE on the screen, I can't see what I'm doing.

From what I can find online, this may be because some layer styles are optimized for certain resolutions. But the only advice I've found is to go under Layer-Layer Style-Scale Effects and scale the style up or down.

So, does anyone know how to figure out WHAT resolution the layer style is best at, so I can then scale accordingly? I guessed 72 ppi, and then scaled up 400 percent to get to 300 ppi, but it still looks bad. (though a bit better).

Sorry to make you read so much!!!



Thanks,
Holly

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I always scrap at 300 dpi. If you scrap at a lower resolution and then upsize, your LO will appear distorted. I apologize if I have misunderstood your question.

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Holly, when you say that you "scaled up" were you using the "scale layer effects" feature in PS? I think I understand your problem...but I'm just not sure what you attempted to do to fix it! :} I really don't have any answer either, other than having read in some of the "How to Wow" books that you may need to use "scale layers effects" to adjust a layer style depending upon your document resolution. Things SHOULD look exactly the same when printed as they appear at 100% on your screen....but I've had drop shadows change appearance when I flattened a document myself...and I've yet to figure out why!

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Hi Pattie,
yes, I used the "scale layer effects." I've managed just by trial and error to get it to look better, still not great, and I still don't quite understand what I"m doing! I think the problem is that the "bevel" layer style is meant to be applied to maybe a little button or something, for web graphics, so trying to make it big doesn't work well.
(Rae: thanks for the reply. I do scrap at 300, it's not a matter of scaling up the entire picture or LO, just the layer style)
I guess the lesson is to check how things look BEFORE applying the style to 10 different layers, ha ha.

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Holly have you tried adjusting the bevel styel AS you apply it? If you change the "soften" or "opacity" that might help. Another suggestion (since you said you are getting hard dark bands) might be to switch the layer mode (again in the apply bevel and emboss dialog box) to something like Soft Light or Overlay instead of the default of Multiply.

Am I making any sense here?

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