The Answer Thread

[Keaton]

And yet the strange thing about shadows is that they're always the same color... funny, huh.

[Pale Dim]

About GIMP....
What are layers, and how do you use them? Also, how do make the image more visible during the editing process, if all but a few features are blocked out by the black and gray square background?

[Keaton]

About GIMP....
What are layers, and how do you use them? Also, how do make the image more visible during the editing process, if all but a few features are blocked out by the black and gray square background?

Layers are used so that you can make edits to an image without having to worry about not being able to undo something.  Think of them as individual transparency sheets on a projector.  If you draw on one of them, you can still remove that sheet and it'll remove whatever was on that sheet as well with no lasting effect on the image as a whole.

Also, you can change the color of the black-and-gray square background by making, of all things, a new layer under whatever layer you're working on featuring whatever color you want.  I usually use white, but if you want some extreme contrast and don't mind your eyes hurting, use a lime green or magenta.