Week 4...Layer Essentials and Adjustment Layers

Layers

Understanding and organizing layers is integral for controlling and creating great images and Photoshop files.

• Create new blank layer: shift+command+n
• Create layer with selection: command+j
• Duplicate layer or layer group: command+j or drag
• Naming and re-naming Layers: double click layer name
• Select pixels in a layer: command+click thumbnail, select whole layer (marching ants!)
• Auto-select option: check box on option bar of move tool
• Right click on your canvas to open a popup window with layer names to select layers
• Restack layers by clicking and dragging
• Create layer groups: command+g
• Delete layers and layer groups: highlight layer you want to delete and use delete key or drag to trash icon in lower right of layers pallette
• Delete groups and choose to delete just the group or the group and its contents
• Repositioning layer content with the move tool: v
• Align layer content: select move tool to bring up align options in the option bar
• Change layer Opacity by either dragging the slider or input numbers
• Use lock options: transparency, image pixels, location, all
• Choose Layer panel options: color code, thumbnail size, doc or content bound
• Layer Filters: pixels, adjustments, type, shape, smart objects—on/off in upper right corner
• Merge layers: merge layers command+e, merge all visible, flatten image
• Visual/hidden: eye icon to the left of the layer thumbnail
• Don't forget about layer options like controlling your thumbnail size, color options, and naming

 
You'll find some good links that go into detail on layers, how they work, how to organize them, etc. below.
 
Adobe:
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/photoshop/cs/using/WSfd1234e1c4b69f30ea53e41001031ab64-78e3a.html

Photoshop Essentials:
http://www.photoshopessentials.com/basics/layers/layers-panel/

 

Adjustment layers

Adjustment layers are superior to simply making adjustments to pixel layers, because they are less destructive, editable, and more flexible.

You can find adjustment layers as the half circle icon at bottom of layers panel, as a dropdown in the main toolbar under layers, or in the adjustment panel under window.

Clipping Mask affects only layer beneath it, no clipping mask affects ALL layers beneath the adjustment layer.

• Brightness/Contrast
• Levels
• Curves (highlights top, shadows bottom, eye droppers)
• Exposure
• Vibrance
• Hue/Saturation
• Color Balance
• Black & White
• Photo Filter
• Invert
• Posterize
• Threshold (black/white, high contrast clipping)

Please learn more about adjustment layers on Photoshop Essentials here.

Homework

Scavenger Hunt Chopshop

Think about the final image you create—story, composition, how it will all come together. You can use themes from fantasy, travel, holidays, stories, etc. I recommend creating a sketch of what your final composition will look like.

Please see examples here. Note that I have named the photographic elements that I believe were used, in the comments of each. This is to help give you an idea of what to photograph to be able to create your final image. Please be aware that we will not be altering the elements much. We will be isolating, transforming, cutting, and adjusting. The point here is to think more in terms of collage, rather than stretching, distorting, painting, etc. I took care to only include images on the Pinterest board that in truth, I believe that you could create by the 3rd week of the assignment, that reflect what I am looking for.

For example, in the below image, the photographic elements appear to be a fish, a sitting child, a branch or fishing pole, water (possibly from an aquarium), and a sky.

Photo by Caras Ionut

Take a minimum of 5 pictures and use Camera RAW plugin to process your photographs and Photoshop adjustment layers to perfection.