Chapter 8

Working with Special Layer Functions

Chapter Lessons

• Use a layer mask with a selection• Work with multiple masked layers• Control pixels to blend colors• Eliminate a layer mask• Use an adjustment layer• Create a clipping mask

Using Special Layer Features

• 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 (non-destructive changes)

Layer Functions

• Turn changes on or off• Align images• Blend and adjust color• Combine elements to enhance an image

Use a Layer Mask with a Selection

• 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 Mask

• Use tools on the Tools panel 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 Mask

• Add a layer mask to a layer• Layer mask thumbnail displays in the Layers

panel to the right of the image thumbnail• Reshape the layer mask with the Brush tool

and a specific brush size or tip

Painting a Layer Mask

Layer mask

Painting with 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 with 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

Using the Properties Panel

• Create and control a mask nondestructively

• Found in the Essentials and Color and Tone workspaces

• Grouped with the Info panel

Correcting a Mask

• Switch the foreground and background colors and paint over the mistake

• The Layer mask thumbnail on the Layers panel updates itself to reflect changes made to the mask

Work with Multiple Masked Layers

• 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

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

Selecting Multiple 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 groups– Link entire layer groups to a single layer or to other layer

groups

Selecting Multiple Layers

• Select multiple layers– Note that Link layers button is

available, and not dimmed

Link layers button

Using Multiple Selection Layers

• After selecting multiple layers, perform actions that affect the group; for example:– Moving the content of selected layers as a single

unit• Unlink layers by deselecting some/all of the

selected layers

Aligning Multiple Layers

• To align multiple layers:– Select the layers on the Layers panel– Select one of the six options from the Align Linked

command on the Layer menu

Aligned Layers

Centers of the Opposition and Running players layers are

aligned

Distributing Selected Layers

• To distribute means to evenly space content• Distributing procedure:– Select three or more layers– Verify opacity settings are 50% or greater– Select one of the six options from the Distribute

command on the Layer menu

Transforming Objects

• Use 1 of 10 transform commands on the Edit menu to transform an object

• Choose a transforming command:– A transform box appears around the object to be

transformed– A transform box (or bounding box) is a rectangle that

surrounds an image and contains handles used to change dimensions

Transform Box

Bounding Box with selection handles

surrounds object to be transformed

Smart Guide coordinates

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 options bar

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Transforming ExamplesSingle player

flipped horizontally

Content-Aware Scaling

• Alter pixels with intelligent scaling• Make selection, click Edit > Content-Aware

Scale

Control Pixels to Blend Colors

• 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

BlendedAfter 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 panel list arrow– Click Duplicate Layer, then click OK

Eliminate a Layer Mask

• 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

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

• Create an adjustment layer to adjust color and tone• Color changes made to the adjustment 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 panel

• Specify which of the color adjustments is required

Adjustments Panel

Creative/advanced controls

Tonal controls

Color controls

Sample Adjustment Layer

New Adjustment Layer added to the

Layers panel

Color Adjustments

• Levels• Curves• Color Balance• Brightness/

Contrast• Hue/Saturation

• Selective Color• Channel Mixer• Gradient Map• Invert• Threshold• Posturize

Working with Adjustment Layers

• Modify an adjustment layer by double-clicking the layer thumbnail on the adjustment layer

• Use as many adjustment layers as required, but create each one individually

• Merge adjustment layers with any visible layers in the image, including multiple-selection layers

Create a Clipping Mask

• Group of two or more contiguous layers• Used 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 it

• Bottom layer of a clipping mask is called the base layer and serves as the 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 mask shape

Clipping Mask Sample

Clipped texture appeared in the layer

Removing a Clipping Mask• Layers in a clipping mask are grouped

together• Ungroup the layers to remove the

clipping mask

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