MERGING AND/OR COLORIZING IN PHOTOSHOP 3.0.5

Monitor's color setting: 256 OK for grayscale/indexed, but use >=32K for RGB/jpeg.

TO MERGE (e.g., grayscale) image files
    Drag layers together and use MODE= overlay or lighten; darken may be useful, but remember that the background layer can only be normal mode.
    If a triple label, try Layer1 in screen, and layer2 in lighten.
    Brightnesses can be adjusted using the Opacity slider (though not for Background layer).
    For combining only two images, Screen may work OK, but Lighten has a more distinct effect.

TO COLORIZE original grayscales:
1) Change mode to RGB, don't flatten layers.
2) For the active Layer, under Adjust, choose Hue/Saturation (Ctl-H), and check the colorize box.

- To decrease white washout, decrease Lightness.
- To change color, adjust Hue.
3) Repeat for other layers, then may need to change blending modes, opacity, and layer order.
4) Use CURVE (Ctl-M) to bring out colors/contrast/brightness even more. This shape gives sweet results (flatten up-rt against top, bow cntr toward up-lft)

Select the color in the CHANNEL for more refined results.
    Also, to bring out blue chromosomes, use MODE=Lighten, & later try flatten bot-lft against bottm, and bowing to up-lft again.

5) Can sharpen with UNSHARP MASK, minimize threshold, medium radius, mod hi Amount.
    Works pretty well on MTs & condensed chromos, but not cell plates.

6) Don't forget about DODGE/BURN tools any time during the conversions.

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