Photoshop, basic rendering question

[PirateChris]

In the line art below I have every piece of the characters body broken apart as a separate layer. I then duplicate every piece as a rendering layer.

What I am trying to accomplish is have the rendering layer as a separate layer, that way if I erase part of the render the flat color will show through. Currently it does not do this.

here is a picture to illustrate.



many thanks  

[Zero Fail]

If you look at the two layers there is a symbol on both of them. I'm thinking (haven't used photoshop in a while) that the two layers are grouped together. I forgot exactly how this is fixed.  

[Valgaror]

It looks like you've got transparency locked. Where it says "Lock:" and has that little checkerboard box selected, try clicking that so it's unselected, does it do what you want after that?

 

[Sazarac]

There is a Lock symbol, each layer other then the background can be locked or unlocked.

You could also change the opacity on your layers.

Nice piece BTW.  

[Death Faust IX]

use clipping mask
ctrl + G on photoshop 7.0 below
right click>create clipping mask for photoshop CS above
create layer>create clipping for paint tool sai

the effect would be as what you said
I presume
try it :"] and perhaps you'll learn what I'm trying to say