Using The Channels Palette - Adobe PHOTOSHOP 5.0 User Manual

240 CHAPTER 10
Using Channels and Masks

Using the Channels palette

The Channels palette lets you create and manage
channels and monitor the effects of editing. The
palette lists all channels in the image—a composite
channel first (for RGB, CMYK, and Lab images),
then individual color channels, spot color
channels, and finally alpha channels. Appearing to
the left of the channel name, a thumbnail of the
channel's contents automatically updates as you
edit the channel.
Viewing channels
You can view any combination of individual
channels. For example, view an alpha channel and
the composite channel together to see how
changes made in the alpha channel relate to the
entire image. By default, individual channels are
displayed in grayscale.
To display the Channels palette:
Choose Windows > Show Channels.
1
A
A. Show/Hide B. Load Selection
C. Save Selection D. New Channel E. Trash
B C D E
2 Use the scroll bars or resize the palette to see
additional channels.
To select a channel:
Click the channel name. Shift-click to select (or
deselect) multiple channels. The names of all
selected, or active, channels are highlighted.
Editing changes apply to the active channels.
When a channel is visible, an eye icon appears to
its left.
Alpha channel visible in image, and Channels palette
These guidelines apply to channels you display:
In RGB, CMYK, or Lab images, you can view the
•
individual channels in color. (In Lab images, only
the a and b channels appear in color.)
If more than one channel is visible, the channels
•
always appear in color.
In alpha channels, selected pixels appear as white
•
(partially selected pixels are gray) by default.