Background layers and gradients

ok, bear with me. i have a few questions, and i use PSP9.


there have been so many awesome tutorials that i would love to try (and thanks to the authors!!!) but when it gets to certain steps, i get really confused.


how does one duplicate background layers? or switch in between layers?


another thing that has greatly confused me is loading gradients. i read the post before this, but it was for PS and i don't know how to convert it to PSP9.



thanks for your help!!!

EDIT: also! say i wanted to put a picture behind another layer. like, i had a picture and took the background out of it and wanted to put another picture behind it? i don't know how to get the second picture behind the base. it's killing me!


thanks for those who have so graciously helped me out :)