photoshop help? - DPChallenge Forums

02/25/2006 11:12:28 PM · #1

Just curious...

Say you have a background layer, then you have another layer (layer1) above that (say something you pasted in like a person onto the background) -- how do you make a curves adjustment layer that affects only that layer1 and has no effect at all on the background layer?

I understand how to adjust the curves of it by itself, but I just can't figure out how to make the curves layer effect only layer1.

Thanks!

02/25/2006 11:14:10 PM · #2

link I think it's called? I could be way off

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

02/25/2006 11:14:45 PM · #3

killing myself here...do i need to create a set?

Lord, grant me some patience.

Message edited by author 2006-02-25 23:15:07.

dolphnz8

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

02/25/2006 11:21:07 PM · #4

Originally posted by deapee:

killing myself here...do i need to create a set?

Lord, grant me some patience.

Just got PS myself last week, and I haven't figured out yet how to get the 2 separate layers together yet!!! I feel your pain and wish I could help!! I'm watching this thread for some info myself...Good luck my man :P)

PhilipDyer

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

02/25/2006 11:26:04 PM · #5

Wow, three posts in 2 minutes. Select the layer that you want to act on by clicking on it and then add a curves adjustment layer under the layers menu. When you do this, you will see a dialog that asks you to name the layer. This dialog has a box to check that will apply the layer as a mask only to the previous layer. Check that box and the adjustment layer will only affect the selected image layer.

Message edited by author 2006-02-25 23:27:02.

02/25/2006 11:26:51 PM · #6

you are my hero, Philip!

PhilipDyer

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Olympus 12-60mm f/2.8-4.0 Zuiko

02/25/2006 11:27:29 PM · #7

We aims to please. :-)

zanfar

Olympus E-3

02/27/2006 01:50:55 PM · #8

Originally posted by dolphnz8:

The function (I think) you are looking for is 'merge layers'. Select two or more layers in the layers palette, right-click and selecting 'merge layers'.

However, merging layers is considered a no-no unless absolutely necessary. The power of Photoshop comes in a large way from it's ability to edit without harming. Meaning you can perform just about every function without modifying your original image or original layer. If you do merge, I would recommend making a copy of the layers (select and drag them to the 'new layer' button in the layers palette), and merging those.

Artifacts

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Panasonic LUMIX-DMC ZS100

02/27/2006 02:30:56 PM · #9

Originally posted by deapee:

Say you have a background layer, then you have another layer (layer1) above that (say something you pasted in like a person onto the background) -- how do you make a curves adjustment layer that affects only that layer1 and has no effect at all on the background layer?

Pardon me for suggestion something mundane, but wouldn't clicking once on layer1 and selecting "Image->Adjustments->curves..." do what you want?

wheeledd

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

02/27/2006 02:47:13 PM · #10

Originally posted by deapee:

Dave,

As you have found, an adjustment layer affects all the layers under it. It would be easy to have the layer affect just the background and not layer1--you would just put the adjustment layer below layer one.

The opposite is more difficult in general, but might be easy for your specific example. I'll assume that layer1 contains a figure that is opaque--you don't want any of the background showing through. I'll also assume that the rest of layer1 is transparent so the background does show through. If this is the case, you can turn off the background temporarily, use the magic wand to select all of the figure in layer1, and then create an adjustment layer. The adjustment layer will affect only the selected part of the image, i.e. the figure in layer1.

-Dan

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

02/27/2006 04:12:40 PM · #11

Originally posted by wheeledd:

Originally posted by deapee:
Just curious...

Say you have a background layer, then you have another layer (layer1) above that (say something you pasted in like a person onto the background) -- how do you make a curves adjustment layer that affects only that layer1 and has no effect at all on the background layer?

I understand how to adjust the curves of it by itself, but I just can't figure out how to make the curves layer effect only layer1.

Thanks!

Dave,

As you have found, an adjustment layer affects all the layers under it. It would be easy to have the layer affect just the background and not layer1--you would just put the adjustment layer below layer one.

The opposite is more difficult in general, but might be easy for your specific example. I'll assume that layer1 contains a figure that is opaque--you don't want any of the background showing through. I'll also assume that the rest of layer1 is transparent so the background does show through. If this is the case, you can turn off the background temporarily, use the magic wand to select all of the figure in layer1, and then create an adjustment layer. The adjustment layer will affect only the selected part of the image, i.e. the figure in layer1.

-Dan

If you take, say, a base image of a sunrise; and add to it, say, a couple of peppers in the shape of a heart which have been selected and copied from a different imnage altohether; if you PASTE those peppers over the BG layer, they ahow up as a new layer with nothing on it but the hearts.

Now if you create, say, a curves layer and work with that, it affects both layers benrath it by default. HOWEVER, if you have the peppers layer active and go to "select/load selection", the default selection will be the "peppers layer mask", and if THEN, with the mask open, you make your curves layer, it will affect only the portion of the image with the peppers in it. This avoids Dan's extra step of turning off the BG layer and making the selection anew.

R.

wheeledd

Panasonic LUMIX-DMC ZS100