Adjustment Layers are created to allow you to make the correct adjustments (curves, levels, etc.) to an image without actually applying the changes permanently. Through this course we will show you how you add, delete, or change adjustment layers. We will also walk you through how you can use the layer mask with adjustment layers. Finally, we will give you important tips and tricks which will allow you to make your photos look like they were professionally taken.
If you are unfamiliar with certain areas that are not covered in this tutorial, feel free check out other tutorials on our website. We have many different types of tutorials that can be downloaded (Video, PDF) or viewed online that will train you for free! Once you have the knowledge, feel free to come back and go through this tutorial again.
You will be using a picture of ducks. If you do not have this image, please scroll down to the image of “Click Picture To Download Supporting Files” and download the image. Please open the image PE-DUCKS in the Photoshop Program.
We have received a fair amount of emails (we responded to all emails) asking us, why we have not shown the adjustment layer option yet or why we are showing most of the permanent adjustments without showing you what an adjustment layer is? We debated before we got into the regular adjustments if we should show you adjustment layers first and we felt it would be better to show you how to use the tools first and then show you the adjustment layer. Instead of learning 2 subjects at the same time, we felt it was better for you to understand the actual adjustment first. Now that we have shown you most of the adjustments, we felt it was a good time to show you what an adjustment layer is and how to use it.
One of the disadvantages of a regular adjustment in Photoshop is once you adjust it and apply the changes, the changes are permanent. Ok, maybe not permanent because you could do a CTRL-“Z” to undo the last step, but what if you made an adjustment on step 1 and you realize that adjustment is incorrect and you are on step 100? There are only 2 options you can do if you find yourself in this mess. 1). Try to take the current adjusted image and make adjustments to get the results you are looking for (this usually does not work well) or 2). Go back to step one using the history palette and make your adjustment and then repeat the next 99 steps.
Because you already know how to do most of these adjustments, you will find this adjustment layer tutorial very easy to understand.
A). The ½ black and ½ white circle is the adjustment layer. Left click this icon in the layers palette. | |
B). Left click on the adjustment. On this example, Left click on the “Curves…” command. |
A). For this example, Left click the Preset drop down box and Left click the “Medium Contrast (RGB)”. | |
B).
Just to prove that your adjustment is not lost, Left click the “X” in
the top right hand corner. This will close this window (palette) down. |
A).
This will display a name for the layer. It will display the name of the
adjustment such as Curves and than a numeric value starting with 1. You
can modify the name by DOUBLE Left clicking the text. **On this
example, change the adjustment layer name to “Curves Ducks”. | |
B). This is the mask portion of the layer. We will be discussing the basics of masking (check out the Masking And Transform Information or the More Masks Please tutorial about masking) shortly. | |
C). This will show you an image of the type of an adjustment. The chart with a line curved is the Curves adjustment. |
On the bottom of the adjustment dialog box, you will notice some new options.
A). Left arrow takes you to the adjustment list (other adjustments). | |
B). Left click this icon to increase the size of the palette (expanded view). | |
C). Left click this icon to tell Photoshop to ONLY adjust 1 layer below. | |
D). Left click the eye to toggle the adjustment layer on or off. | |
E). Hold down the Left mouse button to see what the image looked like before you re-adjusted the image. Release the Left mouse button to show you the current adjustment. | |
F)). Left click this to reset the adjustment defaults (If you Left click it now, it will revert back to the original washed out image). | |
G). For this example, Left click the trash can to delete the adjustment layer. |
There are always a few ways to do the same thing in Photoshop. Here are 2 more ways to delete the adjustment. On this example DO NOT follow the instructions to delete the adjustment layer, because we need to keep this adjustment layer later in this tutorial.
A). Left click the adjustment layer. Once it is highlighted, hold down the Left mouse button and drag it to the trashcan (B). | |
B). Drag any layer to the trashcan and it will remove that layer. |
Back in the Masking And Transform Information or the More Masks Please tutorials we talked about masking, so we are not going to spend a great deal of time explaining adjustment layer masking. In the layers palette, Left click the layer mask box (white box in the center of the layer line). You will notice a square box will be put around the layer mask. This tells Photoshop that you do not want to edit the adjustment, but you want to mask the layer.
Back in the The Work Area tutorial we talked about palettes. When you are using an adjustment layer, you are working inside the adjustment palette. Most images will need an adjustment, so it is wise to keep the adjustment palette located on your screen at all times.
If you have no adjustment layers, than this palette will display the adjustment list. You can also get to this adjustment list within any adjustment layer by Left clicking the Left Arrow icon (bottom left of the screen). For more information, please read the Adjustment Layer Options section of this tutorial. So what does each icon (image) mean in the adjustment list?
Middle Row (Left To Right): 1). Vibrance, 2). Hue/Saturation, 3). Color Balance, 4). Black and White, 5). Photo Filter, 6). Channel Mixer
Bottom Row (Left To Right): 1). Invert, 2). Posterize, 3). Threshold, 4). Gradient Map, 5). Selective Color
We wanted to take a moment and give you some important tips and tricks for the adjustment layer.
As you can see, the adjustment layer is an excellent feature in Photoshop. It not only allows you to make or refine your adjustments, but it also allows you to use the layer mask. The only reason why we use the actual adjustment instead of an adjustment layer is if we only want to make 1 quick adjustment to an image. When you are working with an actual project (multiple layers, multiple adjustments, etc.), you will always want to use an adjustment layer.
1). Select the incorrect statement about adjustment layers?
A). All adjustments that can be done in the adjustment menu can be done on an adjustment layer. | |
B). You can adjust any layer (above the adjustment layer or below the adjustment layer) with one adjustment layer. | |
C). You can change the adjustment layer name. | |
D). The layer mask of the adjustment layer is the white box in the middle of the adjustment layer in the layers palette. |
A). Left click the layer and drag the layer to the “Delete” button. | |
B). Left click the “X” in the adjustment layer to delete the adjustment layer. | |
C). Left click the adjustment layer in the layers palette and drag it to the trashcan. | |
D). Right click the adjustment layer palette and Left click the “Delete Adjustment Layers Only” command. |
A). The icon is the one that looks like a multi-layered folder. | |
B). The icon is the one that looks like a chain. | |
C). The icon has the letters “F/X”. | |
D). The icon is the one that looks like a ½ dark and ½ white circle. |
A). Exposure. | |
B). Brightness/Contrast. | |
C). Photo Filter. | |
D). Levels. |
A). It removes the adjustment, but does not remove the layer mask. | |
B). The adjustment remains, but removes the layer mask. | |
C). This will remove the adjustment from all layers except for the one directly below the adjustment layer. | |
D). It does not give you a confirmation to delete the adjustment layer. |
A). It takes you to the adjustment list menu. | |
B). It hides the adjustment layer. | |
C). It creates a new adjustment layer style. | |
D). It creates a comparison chart between non-adjusted and adjusted. |
A). Adjustment. | |
B). Palette. | |
C). Window. | |
D). Edit. |
A). Double Left click the name in the layers palette to rename the layer. | |
B). Right click the text and Left click the “Rename Adjustment Layers Text”. | |
C). Left click the layer and then Left click the “Rename Layer” button. | |
D).
Left click the “Image” menu and then Left click the “Adjustment” menu
and then Left click the “Rename Adjustment Layer” command. |
A). White. | |
B). Black. | |
C). Brown. | |
D). Gray. |
A). The double circle button. | |
B). The folder button. | |
C). The right arrow. | |
D). The left arrow. |
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