cryodragon, you can contact Adobe customer service department and ask for a replacement manual to be sent.

Please keep in mind if your friend registered Photoshop when he first installed it, he will need to transfer his license to you in order for Adobe to view you as the legitimate owner. This may pose some problem if as you say, he is unable to be contacted...

Please ALSO keep in mind Renderosity's "zero tolerence" in regards to "warez" (this includes using warez)

You'll find members helpful, but rather leary to offer help if they feel someone is using illegal software...

As for the steep "learning curve" for Photoshop... ;) i'm constantly learning!!!

go through the online manual by hitting the F1 and give it a look through...

as to your original question... not sure if you mean an "alpha" channel...

:)
retrocity