1. CSC020, Computer Graphics
Adjustment Layers 1

2. Adjustment Layers non-destructive image editing tools
add color and tonal adjustments to your image without permanently changing its pixels.
can edit and discard your adjustments or restore your original image at any time 2

3. Adjustment Layers Retrieve MoreLayers.zip from the Outbox.
Open ScrabbleMusic30Sept2009.psd.
Layer -> Duplicate Layer
hide Background.
Layer -> New Adjustment Layer 3

4. Adjustment Layers Layer -> New Adjustment Layer
Dialog allows one type of edit per adjustment layer
Color Curves is one example we have already used.
Double click layer mask icon for adjustments dialog. 4

5. Adjustment Layers
When you add an adjustment layer, a new layer will appear over your image
Properties panel specific to the type of adjustment you’ve selected will pop up.
The Properties panel will allow you to modify your adjustment layer, which in turn will modify your image. 5

6. Adjustment Layer Types
You can lower opacity and fill for these.
Note: opacity and fill behave the same in this case
We’ll see the difference when we look at layer styles…
Click the adjustment icon to get its parameters.
You can stack these adjustment layers. 6

7. Adjustment Layer Types
Brightness/Contrast
adjustments to the tonal range of your image.
The brightness slider adjusts overall pixels levels globally
The Contrast slider is for adjusts difference between light and dark areas
Levels modify the tonal values
by adjusting the levels of the shadows, midtones, and highlights. (hold Alt to see changes)
Low/high sliders change black/white pixel levels
using just a touch of levels will go a long way in correcting your images. 7

8. Adjustment Layer Types
Exposure adjusts exposure levels with three sliders:
Exposure will adjust only the highlights
Offset adjusts the mid tones
Gamma will adjust the dark tones only.
Vibrance layer modifies the vibrance
The Saturation slider evenly increases the saturation of all the colors
The Vibrance slider modifies the level of saturation of all the colors too but more selectively, focusing on the least saturated colors and avoiding over saturation of skin tones 8

9. Adjustment Layer Types
Hue/Saturation
adjust the hue, saturation, and lightness of your entire image or in a specific range of colors in your image.
It’s usually better to not affect saturation on an entire image — doing this reduces the overall tonal range.
Instead try affecting the saturation of specific colors in your image to have greater control over your image editing.
This tool is also good for colorizing grayscale images. 9

10. Adjustment Layer Types
Color Balance
changes the mixture of colors in an image.
For a selection, adjust the color balance sliders to bring out specific colors.
Black and White
lets you make grayscale versions of your images.
Photo Filter
adds different color filters on top of your image. 10

11. Adjustment Layer Types
Channel Mixer
modifies the colors in your image to create tinted or grayscale images.
For the best results with this tool, make sure that your channels add up to 100%.
Color Lookup.
pre-packaged “looks” for you to apply to your image.
Each “look” remaps the colors in your image by using a lookup table (LUT). 11

12. Adjustment Layer Types
Posterize
produces a flat, poster-like appearance to a photo by reducing the number of brightness values (levels)
Threshold
turns your image into a black and white image.
Gradient
converts the grayscale range to a custom gradient fill. 12

13. Adjustment Layer Types
Selective Color
selectively modifies the amount of a primary color without modifying the other primary colors
more precise tool for changing specific colors than Hue/Saturation
often used for correcting skin tones in photos. 13

14. Masking Adjustment Layers
You can easily edit and refine existing layer masks.
In the Layers panel, select the layer containing the mask you want to edit.
Click the Mask thumbnail in the Layers panel.
Select any of the editing or painting tools. 14

15. Masking Adjustment Layers
The foreground and background colors assume default grayscale value when the mask is active. Do one of the following:
To subtract from the mask and reveal the layer, paint the mask with white.
To make the layer partially visible, paint the mask with gray. Darker grays make the level more transparent; lighter grays make it more opaque.
To add to the mask and hide the layer or group, paint the mask with black. The layers below become visible. 15

16. Masking Adjustment Layers
Shift D and X alternate background / foreground colors.
You must fill with black to create a black mask that shields in the layer mask. Using a color curve adjustment layer . . .
Set foreground to black, Select All in layer mask, Edit -> Fill with Black, Select with rectangular marquee, Edit -> Fill with white and try color curve.
If you create the adjustment layer with a selection in place, it supplies the layer mask. 16

17. Fill Layers
Like adjustments layers but with a solid Color, Gradient or Pattern.
Pattern layers include right-selectable libraries to expand the Pattern Palette. 17

18. Layer Mask Step by Step Step 1:
Open a new image that you want to use as a mask.
Double-click the background layer and create a new layer, which is "Layer 0."
Make a new layer, which is "Layer 1," on top of it
Fill with a uniform color, then hide "Layer 1.”
Edit -> Fill 18

19. Layer Mask Step by Step Step 2:
Go to “Layor 0” and click Select > Select all (command + a)
Click Edit > Copy (command + c)
Step 3:
Go to “Layer 1”
Create an empty Layer Mask (all transparent)
Alt + click on Layer Mask to see it in canvas 19

20. Layer Mask Step by Step Step 4: Click Edit > Paste (command + v)
Click on the fill layer thumbnail (not mask) to see the result (Solar system masks red)
Opacity of the layer controlled by grayscale level of mask 20

21. Layer Mask Step by Step Mask part of an image:
Select something on the image
Select Add Layer Mask
Order of Layers determines effect 21

22. Layer Mask Step by Step Mask with a Shape: Select Add Layer Mask
Select alt-click to view
Draw a shape
Apply the Mask
Order of Layers determines effect 22