Adjustment Layers
Level:  Info: This tutorial will show you some basic info about Adjustment layers and how to use them. |
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| Adjustment layers will save you a lot of time and you will get desired editing result faster than using any other method for changing colors on image. The best thing about Adjustment layers is that it can be applyed on any layer, and you can post edit it, with just a double click on it. Now, to start with the tutorial you will need to open one of your images that you want to adjust with Adjustment layers. | ||
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:: Step 1. For simple start, you can download this image and open it in Photoshop. Now, press "D" on your keyboard, to reset foreground and background colors to black and white, and again press "X" to reverse them (now the foreground color is white). |
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:: Step 2.  Image 02. Notice the Layers pallete on the photoshop screen. If you cant find it press F7, and when it appears click on the icon (as shown on Image 02) and hold it. Choose "Gradient…" from popup menu. Now fill the fields in gradient window as shown on Image 03.  Image 03. Click OK. Go back to the Layers palette, and select "Gradient Fill 1" layer. Now change "Blending" from normal to "Linear Light"and change the "Opacity" to 95%. You can see the effect of Adjustment Layers already, you have separated layer on top of your original image, and you are manipulating image, but still retain original under, for future reference. |
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:: Step 3.  Image 04. If you feel that you didn’t get quite a good effect you can alway change your settings, as shown on Image 4. If you double-click on left icon (marked as "1.") you will get Gradient fill window again where you can adjust options. Now, click on right icon (marked as "2."). Enter the options, as shown on Image 5. Click OK.  Image 05. |
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:: Step 4. Click on Type Tool (keyboard shortcut "T") and click somewhere in image, and enter some text. Try to use some Bold typeface font. Also be sure that text is in Black color. Center the text on image by moving it with move tool (keyboard shortcut "V"). Change position of Text Layer by draging it under "Gradient Fill 1". Select again in layers palette "Gradient Fill 1". Press "D" and then "X" on keyboard again. Hold CTRL and left-click on Text Layer. You will get selection around letters. Now press "M" to get Marquee tool. |
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:: Step 5. Now this is delicate part. While holding ALT on keyboard, left-click with mouse somewhere on picture and drag a rectangle selection to get something like on Image 6.  Image 06. Now repeat the same procedure on top row of text if you have one. (If you have entered just one line, then you are done with this step.) |
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:: Step 6. While having selection on "Gradient Fill 1" press "G" to get Paint Bucket tool. If you’ve got Gradient tool instead, just press that icon and hold it and choose Pain Bucket instead. Be sure to have black color as foreground (if not press "D" and "X"). Now click on Select menu -> Feather… or Alt+Ctrl+D. Enter "2" as Feather radius. Click OK. Now click somewhere inside the selection with Paint Bucket tool. And finally press Ctrl+D to remove selection. :: Final image  Image 07. You can use adjustment layers for many other stuff. You can even paint on Adjustment Layer with Brush tool (keyboard shortcut "B")… |
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You can also try other choices of Adjustment Layers, such as:
- Solid Color - that will give you solid color fill in adjustment layer
- Pattern - you can use any predefined pattern
- Levels - will adjust levels of picture, as you input it, on specified (painted areas, that you paint yourself with brush, or other tools)
- Color Balance - Will adjust color balance, as you input it
- Brightness/Contrast - will adjust just what it says
All other choices do exactly what they say, but the beauty is that you can paint with brush, gradient, paint bucket, and use all other tools as you would do on normal layers, but it all gives effect to underlaying image, that remains original.
