ptg Working with Adjustment Layers, Filters, and Tools Introduction If you want to visually control an Adobe Photoshop docu- ment, then adjustment layers are the ultimate tool. The pur- pose of an adjustment layer is to show how a specific adjustment, such as Hue & Saturation, changes the appear- ance of the image. Since the adjustment is contained within a separate layer, the original image never changes. This gives you the ability to experiment with different settings. Since adjustment layers can be saved with the document, you can close the document, then return at a later time to make fur- ther adjustments. Another advantage of adjustment layers is size. Adjustment layers do not increase the size of a Photoshop document. Most Photoshop layers are composed of pixels, so adding traditional layers to a document increases the size of the file. Since adjustment layers are simply a set of mathe- matical data, they do not increase the size of the file. Photoshop has two ways to apply adjustments to an image. You could go to the Image menu, and choose Adjustments; however, when you apply an adjustment using this method, it's permanent. The other way is to use an adjustment layer—the very definition of control over time. When working with adjustment layers, you can modify, merge, or even create a temporary composite image, all while your original image stays intact. With all of their advan- tages, you may never perform adjustments using the Image menu again. In addition to letting you apply adjustments to an image without changing the original data, adjustment layers, because they are separate layers, give you the ability to apply standard layer controls, such as blending modes, opac- ity, and fill. Adjustment layers come with their own built-in masks, and allow you to control how and where the adjust- ment is applied to the image. 7 7 What You’ll Do Create an Adjustment Layer Modify an Adjustment Layer Merge Adjustment Layers Create a Temporary Composite Image Control Adjustment Layers with Clipping Groups Delete an Adjustment Layer Use Blending Modes and Opacity with Layers Use Masks with Adjustment Layers Create Masks with Selections Retouch Images with Filters Keep Proper Perspective with Vanishing Point Work with the Lens Correction Filter Retouch Images with Tools and Filters Control Tonal Range Work with the Histogram Panel 141 From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg 142 Chapter 7 Adjustment layers are applied within the Layers panel and use the Adjustment panel. By default, all layers beneath the adjustment layer are changed. In addition, adjustment layers will work on any type of Photoshop layer, including the Background. You can have as many adjustment layers as you need. For example, you might create a Levels adjustment layer to control the contrast of an image, and add a Curves adjustment layer to correct image color. When you create more than one adjustment layer, each adjustment is applied to the image based on its stacking order in the Layers panel. Creating an Adjustment Layer Create an Adjustment Layer Select the Layers panel. Click the layer you want to adjust. Click the Create New Fill or Adjustment Layer button, and then select from the available types of adjustment layers. You can also open the Adjustments panel to set adjustment settings. You can choose from 15 icons representing most of the adjustment layer options. Below the icons are a listing of presets available for some adjustments. When you click one of the icons, controls for that type of adjustment appear on the panel. Adjust the controls for the specific adjustment in the Adjustment panel. ◆ To c hange the focus on t he panel text boxes (New!), press Shift+Enter (Win) or Return (Mac), and then press Tab to switch between boxes. At the bottom of the Adjustments panel, you can use buttons that allow you to go back to the list of adjustment types, switch the panel from Expanded to Standard view, clip the adjustment to the layer below, make the layer visible or invisible, revert to the image state before adjustment was made, reset adjustment defaults, or delete the adjustment. 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 Applying Adjustment Layers When you apply an adjustment layer to an image, you are no longer required to save the document in the PSD (Photoshop Document) format. Photoshop supports saving files with multiple layers, includ- ing adjustment layers, in the TIFF (Tagged-Image File Format) file type. The files can be opened just like ordinary TIFF files in standard layout applications. However, when the file is opened in applications that support multiple layers, such as Corel Painter or Adobe InDesign, the adjustment layers are preserved. For Your Information 3 Adjustments panel 4 5 Presets From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg Chapter 7 Working with Adjustment Layers, Filters, and Tools 143 The beauty of adjustment layers is in the control they offer to the Photoshop user. When you use the Image menu, and click Adjustments, any changes made to the image are permanent as soon as you click OK. But that's not true of adjustment layers. Adjustment layers keep the changes isolated in a separate layer, and this allows you to modify the adjustment minutes, or even days later. With this type of creative con- trol at your fingertips, you can experiment with different settings until the image looks exactly the way you want. Modifying an Adjustment Layer Modify an Adjustment Layer Select the Layers panel. Double-click on the thumbnail of the adjustment layer you want to modify. The options for that specific adjustment reopens in the Adjustments panel. If you didn't already have the Adjustments panel open, clicking on the layer you want to modify will open it automatically. Options for each type of adjustment dialog box varies. Make the changes you want for the specific adjustment. Click OK. 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 Did You Know? You can move adjustment layers up and down in the layer stack. Since each adjustment layer interacts with other adjustment layers, changing the order of the layers creates a totally different image. From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg 144 Chapter 7 Photoshop lets you create as many adjustment layers as you need. For example, you might create a Levels adjustment layer to balance image contrast, a Curves adjustment layer to correct color, and a Photo Filter adjustment layer to create an overall warming effect to the image. Each adjustment layer works with the other adjustment layers to produce the final image. It's not unusual to have three, four, or even five adjustment layers controlling a single image. At some point in the design, you might decide to save space by merging some or all of the adjustment layers. However, when you merge the adjustment layers, the adjustment effects are lost, as a result of how Photoshop deals with adjustment layers. Each adjustment layer controls one specific part of the adjust- ment, such as Curves or Levels. The layers themselves do not hold an image; they hold mathematical data on how to change an image. A single adjustment layer cannot hold more than one set of adjustments. That's why you have multiple adjustment layers. Merging two or more adjustment layers together forces Photoshop to discard all of the adjustment data and the merged adjustment layers turn into one plain old transparent layer. To solve the problem, try merging the adjustment layers and the image layer into one single layer. Merging Adjustment Layers Merge Adjustments with Images Open a document containing an image layer, and two or more adjustment layers. Select the Layers panel. Click the Layers Options button, and then select from the following merge options: ◆ Merge Layers. Merges only the layers selected in the Layers panel into a single layer. ◆ Merge Visible. Merges only the layers that are visible, leaving the hidden layers untouched. ◆ Flatten Image. Merges all layers into a flattened background. If you have one or more layers hidden, Photoshop will open a warning dialog box and ask if you want to discard the hidden layers. 3 2 1 3 2 Show button From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg Chapter 7 Working with Adjustment Layers, Filters, and Tools 145 When you merge adjustment layers into the image, you wind up with a single layer that contains all of the adjustments. By merging the adjust- ment layers, you do lose control over the individual adjustment layers. It's basically a trade-off of smaller file sizes and less layers to contend with, but also less control over the image. Let's say you want the best of both worlds—a single layer that contains the image, all of the adjust- ments, and the original image with separate adjustment layers. It's pos- sible; all you have to do is create a composite layer. Creating a Temporary Composite Image Create a Temporary Composite Image Open a document that contains an image, and two or more visible adjustment layers. Select the Layers panel, create a new layer at the top of the layer stack, and then select it. Hold down the Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) key, click the Layers Options button, and then click Merge Visible. Photoshop combines all of the visible layers into a new layer, while leaving the original layers untouched. 3 2 1 2 3 All visible layers are combined into the new layer. Create New Layer button Did You Know? You can use the composite layer option on any multi-layered Photoshop document. Once you've created the composite layer, you can perform other adjustments without impacting the original image, or even drag and move the composite into another Photoshop document. You can use the link option to control the composite image. Create a new layer, and then link the layers you want included in the composite. Follow the steps for creating a composite, except click Merge Linked. From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg 146 Chapter 7 When you work with adjustment layers, the adjustments are applied to all the layers below the adjustment layer, including any additional adjustment layers. However, there are times when you only want the adjustment applied to a specific layer. For example, you're working on a multi-layered document and you create a Curves Adjustment layer for the purpose of adjusting the color in the next layer down. Unfortunately, the Curves adjustment is applied to all the layers. The answer is simple; just create a clipping group to combine the adjustment layer with the one layer you want to be affected. Controlling Adjustment Layers with Clipping Groups Control Adjustment Layers with the Clipping Group Option Select the Layers panel, and then click the layer you want to adjust. Move your cursor down until the fingertip of the hand pointer touches the line separating the adjustment layer from the next layer down. Hold down the Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) key. The cursor changes from a hand pointer to a double-circle button (the clipping group button). Click your mouse to group the two layers together. The thumbnail of the adjustment layer indents to indicate the two layers are grouped. The effect of the adjustment layer impacts the layer below and no others. 4 3 2 1 1 2 Layers linked as a clipping group Did You Know? You can group more than one layer together. Hold down the Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) key, and then click on the line separating the next layer to add a layer to the group. To remove a layer from the group, hold down the Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) key, and then click on the line separating two grouped items. From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg Chapter 7 Working with Adjustment Layers, Filters, and Tools 147 When you delete an adjustment layer you are simply deleting the adjustment, not the image. Adjustment layers do not contain pixels; they only manipulate the information contained within the image layer. Deleting an adjustment layer is as easy as deleting any other layer type. The effect is the same; the function of the layer is removed from the document. For example, if you delete a Curves adjustment layer, the effects are removed and the image returns to its original state. When you delete an adjustment layer, the change to the image created by the adjustment layer is removed, and the image returns to its original state. Deleting an Adjustment Layer Delete an Adjustment Layer Select the Layers panel. Click the adjustment layer you want to delete. Drag the adjustment layer onto the Delete Layer button. 3 2 1 1 2 The adjustment layer is removed from the document. 3 Did You Know? You can convert an adjustment layer into a regular layer. By default, adjust- ment layers come with a built-in mask. To re move th e mask wh ile pre ser vin g the adjustment layer, select the adjust- ment layer in the Layers panel, hold down the Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) key, and then click the Delete Layer button. From the Library of Wow! eBook . advantage of adjustment layers is size. Adjustment layers do not increase the size of a Photoshop document. Most Photoshop layers are composed of pixels, so adding traditional layers to a document. panel and use the Adjustment panel. By default, all layers beneath the adjustment layer are changed. In addition, adjustment layers will work on any type of Photoshop layer, including the Background adjustment layer to an image, you are no longer required to save the document in the PSD (Photoshop Document) format. Photoshop supports saving files with multiple layers, includ- ing adjustment layers,