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Photoshop Quicktips – Adjustment Layers

Adjustment layers allow users to make color and tonal adjustments to an image non-destructively, meaning no permanent changes are made to pixel values. The adjustments are stored in the Adjustment layer itself and then applied to the layers below it. At any time an adjustment layer can be discarded, restoring the original image.

To create an Adjustment layer, go to the Layer menu and select New Adjustment Layer, or you can click the new Adjustment Layer button at the bottom of the layers panel. In fact, in Photoshop CS4, Adjustment layers have their own pane, and clicking any adjustment icon in that pane will automatically create an adjustment layer of that type.

The Adjustment pane also serves up a list of presets for image adjustments in several categories including levels and curves, hue and saturation adjustments and several different adjustment presets for black and white conversions.

Adjustment layers can be merged to other layers which rasterizes the layer and makes the adjustments permanent. This is done in the same way as merging any layer, by merging down or merging visible thru either a control click on the layer in the layer pane or by going to the layer menu and making your desired selection.

The mask of an adjustment layer can be edited just like any layer or vector mask to create interesting stylized images and effects and separate areas of an image for specific adjustments.

Basic adjustment layers with masks that only contain white values do not add any significant size to the file, and since the edits they perform are non-destructive, you can use many different layers and settings in the same file to create a variety of unique and stylized looks.