“and click ok to the box that comes up, now click the layer while holding the “ctrl” key on the keyboard, this will select it now copy “edit > copy” or “ctrl + c”.”

I’m trying to copy the layer but the option is grayed out and won’t let me copy it and so I can’t paste the the layer into the paper. Any help?

i got confused too the first time,

first in the new document you created with the gradient tool, all that is asking you to do, is unlock the layer, usually when u create a new document with a solid color as background, photoshop will lock the first layer with a lock, so the instructor was just telling u to unlock it that way u can copy it, u unlock it by just double click the layer and press okay on the box that apperas.

once unlock , then u ctrl + click the layer to get the “marching ants” around the “that” layer and copy (ctrl +c or edit->copy).

THENNN, u go “BACK” to your FIRST DOCUMENT you created (the one with the shape tool and grey color square in the begginig) and by having that layer selected, u ctrl + shift and v to paste it, or edit->paste into. once u do that, all u have to is change the layer mode from normal to hard light, that’s it.

i find these step very confusing, u didn’t have to that, u could just create a new layer in the same document and do the gradient and emboss thing there on top of the layer and then apply the hard light, it still get the same effect, it just that it leaves some undesireable strokes around the edges but u can just erase it with the eraser and then …merge all layers and apply the shadow and stroke.