DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 

DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> "Basic Editing" Question
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 13 of 13, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 08/23/2006 04:20:20 PM · #1
In a "Basic Editing" challenge, the rules say that I can use layers as long as they are adjustment layers and contain no pixel data.

Being new to Photoshop, how can I tell if a layer does not have any pixels?

If the layer thumbnail doesn't contain the photo (or partial photo), is it safe to assume this is within the rules? My thumbnail shows an icon (e.g. levels icon or gradient icon). The thumbnail to the right shows a black and white silhouette. Am I still within the rules?

Also, if I'm using a layer mask to mask-off certain areas of the photo, this layer's thumbnail in the list does show the photo. So (in this case) is it allowed?

Thanks!
08/23/2006 04:38:35 PM · #2
Use layers in "normal" mode only.

Forget layer masks in "basic". If you make any tonal, saturation, color balance or ANY other change, it can only be done to the whole picture. A layer mask would "leave out" certian parts in your editing.

Hope this helps.

Skid

Originally posted by lesgainous:
In a "Basic Editing" challenge, the rules say that I can use layers as long as they are adjustment layers and contain no pixel data.

Being new to Photoshop, how can I tell if a layer does not have any pixels?

If the layer thumbnail doesn't contain the photo (or partial photo), is it safe to assume this is within the rules? My thumbnail shows an icon (e.g. levels icon or gradient icon). The thumbnail to the right shows a black and white silhouette. Am I still within the rules?

Also, if I'm using a layer mask to mask-off certain areas of the photo, this layer's thumbnail in the list does show the photo. So (in this case) is it allowed?

Thanks!


Message edited by author 2006-08-23 16:39:30.
 08/23/2006 04:55:38 PM · #3
In Basic, Adjustment Layers such as Levels, Curves, and Hue & Saturation are acceptable. I don't have access to an exhaustive list at the moment. Layers that contain "pixel information" such as gradient fills are not acceptable. Also, when applying legal adjustment layers, do not use the layer masks. Any selection tools, including layer masks, are illegal in Basic.
One final note. You may change the opacity of an adjustment layer, but *not* the blend mode. Blend mode must remain set to "normal" which is the default value.
I hope this helps to clarify the basic Rules with respect to adjustment layers.

08/23/2006 05:11:15 PM · #4
Originally posted by lesgainous:
My thumbnail shows an icon (e.g. levels icon or gradient icon). The thumbnail to the right shows a black and white silhouette. Am I still within the rules?

No -- the thumbnail to the right must be pure white, or else it indicates that the adjustment is being made through a selection.

If you select the adjustment layer in the Layers Pallette, then go to Channels and pick the Layer Mask channel you will see the exact selection as a grayscale image.
 08/23/2006 07:09:37 PM · #5
Originally posted by kirbic:
In Basic, Adjustment Layers such as Levels, Curves, and Hue & Saturation are acceptable. I don't have access to an exhaustive list at the moment. Layers that contain "pixel information" such as gradient fills are not acceptable.

Thanks kirbic.

Is there an exhaustive list somewhere of Adj Layers that are acceptable?

Finally (bear with me, I'm new to PS), in Basic Editing, why would one create an adj layer for Levels when they could just adjust the levels on the main photo (since it's an "all-or-nothing" edit)?

Thanks again!
08/23/2006 07:19:16 PM · #6
Originally posted by lesgainous:

Finally (bear with me, I'm new to PS), in Basic Editing, why would one create an adj layer for Levels when they could just adjust the levels on the main photo (since it's an "all-or-nothing" edit)?

Thanks again!


Doing it this way preserves the original in case you want to go back and do something different or remove the adjustment entirely.
 08/23/2006 07:25:49 PM · #7
Thanks all for your replies. I believe I understand what can and can't be done with layers in a Basic Editing challenge.

BTW, are there ever advanced editing challenges for "non-members"?
08/23/2006 07:30:13 PM · #8
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
Originally posted by lesgainous:

Finally (bear with me, I'm new to PS), in Basic Editing, why would one create an adj layer for Levels when they could just adjust the levels on the main photo (since it's an "all-or-nothing" edit)?

Thanks again!


Doing it this way preserves the original in case you want to go back and do something different or remove the adjustment entirely.


Is that the only reason? I've never understood this concept. If I have an original at hand and work on a copy, why would adjustment layers be so much better? And "undo" works either way.
 08/23/2006 07:31:25 PM · #9
Originally posted by lesgainous:
Thanks all for your replies. I believe I understand what can and can't be done with layers in a Basic Editing challenge.

BTW, are there ever advanced editing challenges for "non-members"?


Occasionally, but not often. The last two were in July of this year, "Color on Color" and "Black and White in Color".
 08/23/2006 07:32:28 PM · #10
Originally posted by ursula:
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
Originally posted by lesgainous:

Finally (bear with me, I'm new to PS), in Basic Editing, why would one create an adj layer for Levels when they could just adjust the levels on the main photo (since it's an "all-or-nothing" edit)?

Thanks again!


Doing it this way preserves the original in case you want to go back and do something different or remove the adjustment entirely.


Is that the only reason? I've never understood this concept. If I have an original at hand and work on a copy, why would adjustment layers be so much better? And "undo" works either way.


Undo only allows you to go back so far and only in the order that you applied the edits. By creating layers you can remove processing in any order you choose.

... and undo is only available during the current session. Once you close the file all that history is gone.

Message edited by author 2006-08-23 19:33:31.
 08/23/2006 07:35:52 PM · #11
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
Originally posted by ursula:
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
Originally posted by lesgainous:

Finally (bear with me, I'm new to PS), in Basic Editing, why would one create an adj layer for Levels when they could just adjust the levels on the main photo (since it's an "all-or-nothing" edit)?

Thanks again!


Doing it this way preserves the original in case you want to go back and do something different or remove the adjustment entirely.


Is that the only reason? I've never understood this concept. If I have an original at hand and work on a copy, why would adjustment layers be so much better? And "undo" works either way.


Undo only allows you to go back so far and only in the order that you applied the edits. By creating layers you can remove processing in any order you choose.

... and undo is only available during the current session. Once you close the file all that history is gone.


Ah, OK, I see your point.

BTW, PSP does allow you to undo in any order you choose (selective undo). But you're right about the session, history is gone once you close the file.

Message edited by author 2006-08-23 19:42:07.
 08/23/2006 07:58:04 PM · #12
Originally posted by ursula:


BTW, PSP does allow you to undo in any order you choose (selective undo). But you're right about the session, history is gone once you close the file.


That's a cool feature. Could come in handy to just try a few things out without the bother of layers.
 08/23/2006 08:09:34 PM · #13
Originally posted by ursula:
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
Originally posted by lesgainous:

Finally (bear with me, I'm new to PS), in Basic Editing, why would one create an adj layer for Levels when they could just adjust the levels on the main photo (since it's an "all-or-nothing" edit)?

Thanks again!


Doing it this way preserves the original in case you want to go back and do something different or remove the adjustment entirely.


Is that the only reason? I've never understood this concept. If I have an original at hand and work on a copy, why would adjustment layers be so much better? And "undo" works either way.


It allows for tweaking, say, if you did levels and then some hue/sat work, and then wanted to go back and tweak levels without having to undo the hue/sat first. It's the ability to run several actions at once rather than one at a time. It's not always necessary, but when you want it it is indeed a beautiful thing.
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 09/22/2025 09:42:25 PM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 09/22/2025 09:42:25 PM EDT.