Adobe PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS Manual page 190

CHAPTER 8
182
Using Layers
About adjustment layers
Adjustment layers let you experiment with color
and tonal adjustments to an image without
permanently modifying the pixels in the image.
The color and tonal changes reside within the
adjustment layer, which acts as a veil through
which the underlying image layers appear. Keep in
mind that an adjustment layer affects all the layers
below it. This means that you can correct multiple
layers by making a single adjustment, rather than
making the adjustment to each layer separately.
Original, and levels adjustment applied
Layers palette with adjustment layer
About fill layers
Fill layers let you fill a layer with a solid color, a
gradient, or a pattern. Unlike adjustment layers,
fill layers do not affect the layers underneath them.
Creating adjustment layers or fill layers
Adjustment layers and fill layers have the same
opacity and blending mode options as image
layers and can be rearranged in order, deleted,
hidden, and duplicated in the same manner as
image layers. By default, adjustment layers and fill
layers take the name of the adjustment/fill type.
Adjustment layers display a partially filled circle to
the right of the layer name.
A. Fill layers B. Adjustment layers
To create an adjustment layer or fill layer:
To confine the effects of the adjustment layer or
1
fill layer to a selected area, make a selection. To
confine the effects of an adjustment layer to the
layers immediately below it, create a grouped layer
consisting of these layers. (See "Creating grouped
layers" on page 180.)
Do one of the following:
2
Click the New Adjustment Layer button ( )
•
at the bottom of the Layers palette, and choose the
layer type you want to create.
A
B