I downloaded the background image separately. It's fairly obvious to me that the background image does not appear to be from a single photo. My impression is the sand, the rocks and the sea are originally a separate photo from the sky and distant islands. The sharp edges of the rocks against the sky and sea and unclean difference between the sea and the islands tends to suggest this both in color and shading. This severe sharpness may have been deliberate for special effect (and if it were just a single photo.) But the concept of combining photos together for special effect can be very powerful.

Many thks again but how can I send you the images on which I am working? In an email, probably, but addressed to whom? I use Outlook Express for my emails. JOE

You could send to the forum email address. Click the Contact Us button at bottom of page.

Thks; will try to send the images later as I am a slowcoach. Grateful for yr patience with me as I am no longer young and many people nowadays are too busy to care about us folk who are well past our teens.....!!!!

Have at long last managed to superimpose two images on a third one whilst preserving the transparency of the ones I superimposed.
Many thanks once again for your patience and first-class help.
Every good wish for Christmas and a new 2012.

JOE

Glad to hear it worked for you. :) Keep in mind the use of mask layers for both transparency and for effects layers. These are very powerful because you can always adjust them at a later time. You only flatten an image before printing if the image is to be used for printing (and make that a copy that is flattened, not the original.)

You do not need to flatten the image if you intend to use it with Photoshop's 'Save for Web & Devices ...' option. JPeg 2000 is fine for web use where the image is going to be viewed at 1:1 or smaller ratio.

And best wishes for your Christmas and New Year. All the best. :)