PNG/BMP file covering text-- layer problem?

[jim cubie]

I am doing the "hiking logo" tutorial at http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/AShortExampleLogo.html . After you enter and format the text you are directed to import a file that is an outline of a mountain. So I went on Paint and made the outline of the top of the mountain, and imported it as directed ( tried both a png and and bmp file ) and placed  it at the top of the work area above the letters.  The next step is to change the letters to paths and extend the top of the letters above the outline of the mountain.  When I attempt to extend the letters into the square containing the line drawing of the mountain top, I cannot see the letters. They should cover the drawing of the mountain.  I thought that it might be a layer issue so I selected the mountain rectangle and tried to make it the bottom layer.  Apparently that is not the problem.  What do I do to make it possible to extend the top of the letters over the mountain outline?

[brynn]

I haven't read that tutorial in a long time.  Does it tell you to create layers?

Or maybe you're referring to the z-order as layers?  (A lot of newbies do, understandably.)

If you actually have layers, open the Layers dialog (bottom of Layers menu).  Next you would select the mountain image and holding Shift key, press PgDn key once for each layer that you move it.  You can watch the Layers dialog to see it moving.

If it doesn't tell you to create layers, then you're probably referring to the z-order, you would select the mountain image (with Selection Tool), and click "Lower to bottom" button on the control bar.  Looks like   

(I'm thinking possibly you clicked the "Lower by 1 step" button, and probably you would need to click it a few times.  That's because each object on the canvas occupies a "z-layer".  And when you import a raster image, it is placed on the top of the z-order.  So it could take several times pressing the Lower by 1 step button.  But Lower to bottom gets you there in 1 click.)

[Pilosopong Tasyo]

So I went on Paint and made the outline of the top of the mountain, and imported it as directed ( tried both a png and and bmp file ) and placed  it at the top of the work area above the letters.

The image doesn't use transparency, and is arranged on top of the text, hence the text "disappearing" when pulled up to the image.  Changing the z-order or using layers like what brynn said should fix it.  I recommend using layers, that way the image layer can be locked easily while pulling up the text and that prevents any accidental selection of the image which may result to any transformation operations to it by mistake.