Layers driving me insane

Well, I'm probably insane anyway!

But I'm using Photoshop Elements 7 and when I create an adjustment layer the thumbnail is not visible in the layers pallete meaning I can't see what i'm doing, the thumbnail is just white.

Are there any online resources such as "layers for idiots"?

Cheers,
Andy

An adjustment layer affects all visible layers below it in the same way - hence the thumbnail appears to be white.

If you want a layer that contains objects to manipulate then you just want a regular layer, not an adjustment one.

Hope that helps

Fantastic thank you, that explains a lot!

The thumbnail for the adjustment layer is actually the layer mask.
As Hefty says, the adjustment layer affects all layers underneath (unless it has been grouped, in which case it only affects that grouped stack). But the layer mask can be used to target the adjustment to specific areas.

Black on the layer mask means "don't apply this adjustment"
White on the layer mask means "apply this adjustment"
Grey on the layer mask means "apply this adjustment a bit"

It's a nice way to target, say curves, to just the sky in an image. Add the adjustment layer and tweak to get the result you want - ignoring the mayhem in the rest of the image. Then paint black on the adjustment layer mask (either soft black brush or the gradient tool with foreground-to-transparent) to apply locally.

HTH!
Matt

Thanks for the explanation matt, I never have quite pursued layers enough to get them sussed. I've got some portrait pics which I want to sharpen the faces and blur the backgrounds with different layer masks, this makes me want to give it another go,....