Mastering Photoshop Layers

Photoshop's layers are arguably the most powerful aspect of the software's user interface and are the key to successful image editing in Photoshop. Layers allow for both global and local adjustments to images and can be used to create a number of special effects. Best of all, layers allow for nondestructive editing of your original image. New Photoshop users often see layers as too complicated, and they miss out on the program's full potential. This book will remove the confusion factor by providing an in-depth introduction to layers. Clear, step-by-step instructions and illustrations help the reader quickly master the tools that are relevant for photographers. In this book you will learn about: Working with and building multiple layers Blending layers and which Options to use Using layers to enhance and retouch your images Creating and using layer masks Creating luminosity and saturation layer masks Using Smart Objects and Smart Filters Advanced layer techniques Time-saving shortcuts, tips, and tricks

Photoshop's layers are arguably the most powerful aspect of the software's user interface and are the key to successful image editing in Photoshop. Layers allow for both global and local adjustments to images and can be used to create a number of special effects. Best of all, layers allow for nondestructive editing of your original image. New Photoshop users often see layers as too complicated, and they miss out on the program's full potential. This book will remove the confusion factor by providing an in-depth introduction to layers. Clear, step-by-step instructions and illustrations help the reader quickly master the tools that are relevant for photographers. In this book you will learn about: Working with and building multiple layers Blending layers and which Options to use Using layers to enhance and retouch your images Creating and using layer masks Creating luminosity and saturation layer masks Using Smart Objects and Smart Filters Advanced layer techniques Time-saving shortcuts, tips, and tricks.

Unlock the Hidden Power of Adobe Photoshop CC Adobe Photoshop CC is loaded with powerful photo editing tools, and yet its most powerful features are hidden away. Let me help you tap Photoshop’s most potent tools and begin to work just like a professional photo editor. Here are a few of the things you will learn in this book: · The fundamentals of how Layers work in Photoshop. How to work with and organise them, making Photoshop faster and easier to use. · Learn about the different types of Photoshop layer, including detailed instructions for using EVERY Adjustment Layer. These are some of Photoshop’s most powerful tools. · How to use the Blend If controls to make targeted adjustments to photos based on colour and tone. · How the different Blend Modes work in Photoshop. You will learn how to use these to make editing faster and easier as well as create amazing effects. · How to use Smart Objects in your editing, to save you time in both the short and long term. · Ways to combine different tools and techniques to produce impressive effects with ease. Even if you have never worked with Layers before, this book will give you the tools to quickly advance your skills. All that’s assumed is that you have a basic Photoshop knowledge. Everything you need to know is explained step by step in detail. This book is loaded with illustrations, exercises, and examples. You can download the supporting image files from my website to follow the editing on your own computer. There are even links to supporting YouTube videos I’ve published. This is a book written for photographers by a photographer. No fluff. No filler. Just clear instruction and help.

MasterPhotoshop CS4 with this visual, hands-on guide to using layers, under the expert guidance of digital imaging specialist Richard Lynch. Layers, Photoshop's most powerful feature, is the core of a nondestructive image-editing workflow. Step-by-step instructions and practical examples illustrate how to. * Polish: correct and enhance color, fix composition problems, and repair damage or flaws * Manipulate: isolate image areas for changes, adjustments and experimental concepts * Understand: use all forms of layer blending, including transparency, clipping masks, opacity/fill, layer masks, layer modes, channel targeting, Blend If, and Effects/Styles The accompanying DVD comes complete with a generous library of practical actions based on techniques from the book that add functional power to Photoshop, along with practice images for all the exercises in the book. This focused, highly accurate, comprehensive, and practical guide offers invaluable advice for all users of Adobe Photoshop CS4.

Adobe Photoshop is one of the most powerful image-editing applications ever created, but it is also widely thought to be difficult to learn, infinite in scope, and nearly impossible to master. For these reasons, many photographers choose to stay exclusively with Lightroom for all their photography needs. But for those photographers who subscribe to the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan—which includes both Lightroom and Photoshop—to leave Photoshop unopened and unexplored is to deny yourself the ability to take your creativity and expression to a whole new level.

In The Photoshop Toolbox, photographer and bestselling author Glyn Dewis breaks down Photoshop into just three main features: layer masks, brushes, and blend modes. Glyn has taught thousands online, in person, and through his bestselling books The Photoshop Workbook and Photograph Like a Thief. Over and over, he has recognized that once a user truly understands these three tools, there is nothing holding them back from achieving whatever they want to accomplish in Photoshop. With Glyn explaining not only the “what” but also the “why” behind layer masks, brushes, and blend modes, you’re empowered to think beyond each specific example and to ask that all-powerful question, “What would happen if I used that technique on this other image?”

Written expressly for photographers with little knowledge of Photoshop, in The Photoshop Toolbox you’ll learn:

• Photoshop basics: Explore Photoshop’s Workspace, Tool Bar, Options Bar, Properties, and Layers

• Layer masks: Learn the basics of layer masks, as well as specific techniques that incorporate cutouts, removing halos, Content Aware Fill, Look Up Tables (LUTs), and more

• Brushes: Brushes are useful for everything from cutouts to creating special effects like snow, debris, grass, and even your own signature

• Blend modes: Use blend modes for tricky selections, brightening and darkening an image, and tidying up a layer mask

• Additional tips, tricks, and techniques: Glyn devotes an entire chapter to “extra” techniques such as removing reddening skin, creating smoke, matching color, and building depth in your image with contrast, light, and sharpness

Finally, in the last chapter of the book, Glyn brings it all together with a start-to-finish project concentrating on photo retouching skills.

Learn to harness the full power of layers and selections in Photoshop—and let your creativity soar!

Learning the basics of Photoshop is an admirable feat. Unfortunately, that’s exactly where most people end their Photoshop journey: with a fundamental appreciation of the program and the ability to execute a few helpful techniques. But without a full understanding of and capability with layers and selections—arguably Photoshop’s most powerful tools—you’re leaving the vast majority of Photoshop’s power and potential untapped.

The Photoshop Layers and Selections Workshop is here to change all that. In this book, photographer and bestselling author Glyn Dewis focuses on these two key features of Photoshop, knowing that if you can learn and master them, you’ll have everything you need to maximize Photoshop’s potential, bring out the best in your work, and harness your full creativity.

In this book, you will:

• Start off with a detailed breakdown of the Photoshop Home screen and Workspace, including how to best set it up for your way of working.

• Grow your understanding of layers and learn how to maximize their potential in your selections workflow.

• Conquer selections and cutouts by mastering the use of tools including Select and Mask, the Pen Tool, Channel Pulls, Vector Masks, Color Range, and more.

• Learn how to make and fake the best possible hair and fur selections.

• Work your way through three selections workflows, combining tools and techniques to get the very best possible results.

• Learn some of Glyn's favorite Photoshop techniques in a bonus chapter.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Chapter 1: The Photoshop Workspace
Chapter 2: Layers
Chapter 3: Selections and 101
Chapter 4: Selection Tools
Chapter 5: The Pen Tool and Vector Masks
Chapter 6: Select and Mask
Chapter 7: Sky Replacement
Chapter 8: Cleaning Up Selections
Chapter 9: Selection Workflows
Chapter 10: Bonus Content

Photoshop’s adjustment and fill layers give you an amazing level of control and are the building blocks of innumerable techniques. In this definitive resource, Scott Valentine demonstrates how to use these simple but powerful tools through approachable hands-on examples, and he calls on other Photoshop experts to share their techniques. Whether you’re a professional or hobbyist, you’ll learn techniques that give you an edge in technical, personal, and commercial projects. Beginning and intermediate users of Photoshop will learn how adjustment and fill layers work and get up to speed on the most common techniques. Advanced users will find indispensable reference material in addition to speedy solutions to vexing problems. More than just a collection of effects and recipes, The Hidden Power of Adjustment Layers in Adobe Photoshop explains why the techniques work and how to tune them for your specific needs. Powerful tips and techniques from industry experts, including Katrin Eismann, Pete Collins, and Corey Barker Straightforward teaching style from a veteran Photoshop user Richly illustrated with examples of over two-dozen techniques covering photography, compositing, and illustration Quick-reference guide to every fill and adjustment layer with before-and-after images for easy comparison Downloadable reference files and actions to explore and enhance your creativity (on the companion website)