Adjustment layers in Photoshop Ep20/33 [Adobe Photoshop for Beginners]:

Assalam.o.Alaikum

Welcome to tech Learning 4U.

In the last Blog, we learned how to apply color

adjustments to raster image layers in Photoshop.

We learned that when applying a color adjustment

to a raster image layer, it will have a destructive effect.

Now, there is an alternative feature that allows us

to apply color affects to our layers very much the same

as using adjustments, but in a non-destructive way.

These are called adjustment layers.

In this tutorial, I will be discussing adjustment layers,

how we use them, and why we use them.

I will also be referencing an additional Blog

I have created previously.

In this Blog, I will only be covering the very basics

of adjustments layers, though in the additional tutorial,

I will be going into more depth of how to use

adjustment layers so I strongly recommend you watch this

when you come to it.

By the end of watching this tutorial and watching

the other Blog, you'll know everything you will need

to know about adjustment layers.

what's going on.

So just like in the previous Blog, on the left we have

some examples of raster image layers,

and on the right a smart object layer.

So if we take a look at the examples on the left,

we can see that clearly

we have two very different color effects applied.

Now if we look in the Layers panel,

we will notice something we have not seen

up until this point on the course.

If we look closely, we can see what appear to be layers

on top of the two bird raster Layers panel.

Well, these are in fact adjustment layers.

Here we can see a Hue Saturation applied to the top layer,

and a Black and White applied to the bottom layer.

Now, check this out.

So on each of the layers, we have a button to toggle

the visibility of the layer.

So I'm going to toggle the visibility of each of these

adjustment layers, and all of a sudden each of the examples

are back to the original image.

If I come back and turn on the visibility again,

we will see the effect applied.

Now, if I click onto each of the adjustment layers,

notice, in the Properties panel,

we have the values in order to toggle the current effect.

For example, on the Hue Saturation,

I'll tweak the Hue like so, and we can see the color change

in the image.

So instead of permanently changing the image

like using adjustments, as seen in the previous video,

here we can apply a non destructive layer

in the Layers panel.

Pretty cool right?

So when applying color adjustments to images in Photoshop,

I would always recommend using adjustment layers

over simple adjustments, as you will have the flexibility

to change and turn off your effects as you please.

So now, let's come across to the smart object layer,

now in the Layers panel, it does not matter what type

of layer you have, a type layer, a smart object layer,

a raster layer or a shape layer.

You will be able to apply an adjustment layer

to any kind of layer.

So let's see how this is done.

And I'm going to apply an adjustment layer to my bird

smart object layer here on the right.

So before we apply an adjustment layer

to a particular layer,

we must first select it in the layers panel.

So I'm going to come over and select the birds smart object

and just like our example over on the left,

I want to apply a Hue Saturation adjustment layer.

So with the layer selected, I'll come down to the bottom

of the Layers panel,

at the bottom of the panel we have some icons.

Now, the one we want to pay attention to here,

is the Add Adjustment Layer icon.

This is the circle icon, half white and half black,

fourth from the left.

So I'll click this icon, and up will pop a list

of adjustment effects.

Now you may be familiar with the options we have here.

They are very similar to the adjustments we applied

in the previous Blog.

So from this list, I'll go ahead and select

the Hue Saturation.

So upon click, we will now see a new adjustment layer

appear on top of my bird smart object layer.

Great.

Also, you will notice that the Properties panel

will now spring to life and we can see the familiar

effect values we can toggle.

So I'll go ahead and change the hue.

Now as I do so, notice that not only is my smart object

image changing color,

but also the raster image over on the left.

Now why is this?

Well, adjustment layers work to apply the effect

to any layer below them in the Layers panel.

As we can see, this adjustment layer exists at the top

of the Layers panel.

So, as I tweaked the values of the hue,

every layer below will be affected.

Now since the other layer is black and white,

the hue adjustment will not apply to this.

Now there is a way, however, to make this adjustment layer

only apply to the layer immediately below it

on the Layers panel.

So if we look closely in the Layers panel,

we can see that the other adjustment layers

apply to the layers below have these small arrows.

Well this means, that these adjustment layers

only apply to the layer immediately below.

So with my new adjustment layer selected

in the Layers panel, over in the Properties panel,

if we look at the bottom of the panel,

we have some icons here.

So what I need to do, is click the bottom left icon.

This is an adjustment clip action.

By clickin' this icon, it will set the adjustment layer

to only apply to the layer immediately below.

So upon click, we will see a little arrow appear

on the new adjustment layer and it will only apply

to the smart object layer below.

Excellent.

So that's a brief introduction to how we can use

adjustment layers in Photoshop.

Now there is a lot more to be learned

about using adjustment layers.

If you would like to learn more,

such as applying masks to adjustment layers,

and using multiple adjustment layers on a single layer,

I recommend you watch my other tutorial,

where I go into this in a lot more detail.

Simply click the screen or find the link

in the description, or in the course PDF.

This is essential training for any beginner to Photoshop.

After watching this Blog, you will have a complete

understanding on how to use adjustment layers.

Now in Photoshop, there are a wide range of filters

that enable us to completely change and manipulate

the physical appearance of an image layer

to create various visual effects.

In the next Blog,

we are going to learn about filters in Photoshop.

See you in the next Blog.