I am hoping to find a little help with layers. I have searched the forum, and read all the tutorials I can find....but am still having trouble. Here is a description of what I have:
First Layer: A jpeg image of a map (white background with black lines). I added some text and drawings to this image and looks fine.
Second Layer: Next I used Layer--insert image to create a new layer with a jpeg image of a compass (white background, compass in red). I moved this compass where I wanted it, with the result that this layer is transparent except for the compass. I thought this would be perfect, as I want the compass to show on top.
Third Layer: I needed to add some text and drawings running in a different direction, and it seemed easiest to add another layer and flip it around to add the text. (No doubt there is a better way to do this) Once I finished this layer, it is transparent except for the text and drawings. Again, I thought this would be perfect, because I want these on top.
My first thought was to move my first layer (the map) to the bottom and just set all the layers on normal, since I thought that the transparent parts of the second and third layers would just show through to the map. And indeed it looks perfect on the screen.
The problem is that when I print it out, everything is in a haze. The layers are perfect but it is very light, as if my printer were low on ink (its not and other things print out fine). So I then set all layers on "overlay". But no opaqueness seems to work correctly. I have moved layers, tried different settings on each one, and nothing looks or prints right. I tried flattening, saving as png and jpg, and the results were always the same.
I have the awful feeling that I am overlooking something very simple here....I thought I understood that the checkerboard pattern indicated transparency. But is transparent not really transparent....I mean, does it not mean that the layer underneath will show through clearly?