Adobe Photoshop CS Design Professional LAYER FUNCTIONS WORKING WITH SPECIAL

Adobe Photoshop CS Design Professional

LAYER FUNCTIONSWORKING WITH SPECIAL

2Working with Special Layer Functions Chapter G

Use a layer mask with a selectionWork with layer masks and layer contentControl pixels to blend colorsEliminate a layer maskUse an adjustment layerCreate a clipping mask

Chapter Lessons


Use special layer features to modify an entire image or an entire layer

Define the precise area to manipulate in each layer

Adjust the appearance of each layer without altering the original image

Using Special Layer Features


Layer Functions

Turn changes on or offAlign imagesBlend and adjust colorCombine elements to enhance an image


Use a Layer Mask with a Selection Understanding Layer Masks

Layer masks can cover an entire layer or specific areas within a layer

Masks are flexible: – Hide their effect when viewing the

image or change the masks

Add an unlimited number of masks to an image:– One mask per layer


Creating a Layer MaskUse tools on the toolbox to create the area to mask

Apply the mask to the selection or to everything except the selection

Feather the edges of the selection, if required


Traditional Definition of Mask

The term Mask comes from printing:– A mask was

opaque material or tape used to block off an area of the artwork that would not be printed

MASK


Painting a Layer MaskAdd a layer mask to a layer

Reshape the layer mask with the Brush tool and a specific brush size or tip


Painting on a Black Foreground

If the image is painted with a black foreground, the size of the mask increases:– Each brush stroke hides pixels on the

image layer– Paint with black to hide pixels


Layer Mask Example

Layer mask thumbnail

Layer mask is black to hide

pixels

School Bus layer


Painting on a White Foreground

If the image is painted with white as the foreground, the size of the mask decreases:– Each brush stroke restores pixels of the

layer object– Paint with white to reveal pixels


Correcting a MaskSwitch the foreground and background colors and paint over the mistake

The Layer mask thumbnail on the Layer palette updates itself to reflect changes made to the mask


Work with Layer Masks and Layer Content Understanding Layers and Masks

The layer mask is a powerful editing tool:– Allows repeated editing of an image

without ever disturbing the original pixels that make up the image

By default, the mask is linked to the layer:– When the layer is moved, the mask

moves as well


Understanding the Link Icon

The Link icon appears when a layer mask is created and when layers or layer sets are linked

When creating a layer mask, the link icon appears between the layer thumbnail and the layer mask thumbnail


Linking Layers

Group or link layers to make multiple layers into one layer

To link layers, the layer (not the layer mask) must be active – Link the active layer to other layers,

even those in different layer sets– Link entire layer sets to a single

layer or to other layer sets


Using Linked Layers

After linking layers, perform actions that affect the linked group; for example:– Moving the content of linked layers

as a single unit

Unlink layers by clicking the Indicates if layer is linked button for each layer to unlink


Aligning Linked Layers

To align multiple layers:– Link the layers on the Layers palette– Select one of the six options from

the Align Linked command on the Layer menu


Aligned Layers

Centers of the Bananas, Nuts, and

Blueberries layers are aligned


Distributing Linked Layers

To distribute means to evenly space contentDistributing procedure:– Link three or more layers– Verify opacity settings are 50% or

greater– Select one of the six options from

the Distribute Linked command on the Layer menu


Transforming Objects

Use 1 of 10 transform commands on the Edit menu to transform an objectChoose a transforming command:– A bounding box appears around the

object to be transformed– A bounding box is a rectangle that

surrounds an image and contains handles used to change dimensions


Bounding Box

Bounding Box with selection handles

surrounds object to be transformed


Transforming Sequence

Select the object

Choose a transform command or a sequence of transform commands

Apply changes by clicking the Commit transform button on the tool options bar


Transforming Examples

Strawberries scaled

Nuts rotatedBefore After


Control Pixels to Blend Colors Blending Pixels

Control the colors and form of an image by blending pixels on one layer with pixels on another layer

Blending options are located in the Layer Style dialog box


Layer Style Dialog Box


Controlling Blending

Control how pixels are blended by choosing a color as the Blend If color– The Blend If color determines the

color range for the pixels to blend

Use the This Layer and Underlying Layer sliders


Blending ExampleBefore Pixels

Blended

After Pixels

Blended


Sliders

This Layer sliders– Specify the range of pixels that will

be blended on the active layer

Underlying Layer sliders– Specify the range of pixels that will

be blended on all the lower—but still visible—layers


Using Duplicate Layers

Create interesting effects by duplicating layers:– Click the layer to duplicate– Click the Layers palette list arrow– Click Duplicate Layer, then click OK


Eliminate a Layer Mask Disabling Layer Masks

Disable a layer mask to:– Create duplicate layers and layer masks– Apply different styles and affects to

layer masks– Show and hide layer masks individually

to find the mask that gives the desired look


Removing Layer Masks

Options for removing layer masks:– Apply the mask to the layer so that it

becomes a permanent part of the layer– Discard the mask and its effect

completely


Use an Adjustment Layer Understanding Adjustment Layers

A special layer that acts as a color filter for all the layers beneath

Create an adjustment layer to adjust color and tone

Color changes made to the adjust-ment layer exist only in the adjustment layer, leaving the original layer unchanged


Creating an Adjustment Layer

Select the layer to adjust

Use the Layer menu to click a new adjustments layer command or by clicking the Create new fill or adjustment layer button on the Layers palette

Specify which of the 11 color adjustments are required


Sample Adjustment Layer

New Adjustment Layer added to the

Layers palette


Color Adjustments Selective Color

Channel Mixer

Gradient Map

Invert

Threshold

Posterize

Levels

Curves

Color Balance

Brightness/Contrast

Hue/Saturation


Working with Adjustment Layers

Modify an adjustment layer by double-clicking the layer thumbnail on the adjustment layerUse as many adjustment layers as required, but create each layer individuallyMerge adjustment layers with any visible layers in the image, including linked layers


Create a Clipping Mask Understanding Clipping Masks

Group of two or more contiguous layersUsed when one layer is to act as the mask for other layers or if the adjustment layer is to affect only the layer directly beneath itBottom layer of a clipping group is called the base layer and serves as the group’s mask


Creating a Clipping Mask

Two layers are required: – One to create the shape of the mask – One to supply the content for the mask

Either a type or an image layer can be used to create the clipping group shape


Clipping Mask Sample

Clipped texture appeared in the

layer


Removing a Clipping Group

Layers in a clipping group are grouped together

Ungroup the layers to remove the clipping group


Chapter G TasksUnderstand layer masks

Create a layer mask

Link layers

Align and distribute linked layers

Transform objects


Chapter G TasksBlend pixels

Eliminate a layer mask

Create and use an adjustment layer

Create a clipping mask

Documents

Adobe Photoshop CS Design Professional LAYER FUNCTIONS WORKING WITH SPECIAL