Applying adjustments

Adjustments are applied to your image from the Adjustment panel and most include customizable settings alongside general adjustment options. Once applied, they can be identified as both an adjustment and a specific adjustment type by using unique symbols.

Adjustment layer type — Curves adjustment layer indicating it is an adjustment (A) and a Curves adjustment type (B).

Available adjustments:

Adjustment layers only affect layers which are below them. Alternatively, you can make an adjustment a child of a layer (or layer group), thereby affecting that layer (or layer group) only.

Some adjustments (i.e., Curves, Levels, or Channel Mixer) can be made in any color space independently of the document color space.

Settings

The following general settings are available from all adjustment dialogs:

Add Preset—adds the current adjustment settings as a preset for use with later images and projects.
Merge—merges the current adjustment layer with the layer immediately below it in the layer order.
Delete—closes the dialog and deletes the adjustment layer, removing the adjustment from the image.
Reset—reverts all dialog settings to default.
Opacity—how see-through the adjustment layer is.
Blend mode—changes how the applied pixels interact with existing pixels on the layer below. Choose mode type from a pop-up menu.
Blend Options—click to access a dialog for setting the blend ranges, blend gamma and antialiasing settings for the selected layer.

To apply an adjustment:

On the Adjustment panel, select an adjustment.
Click one of the adjustment preset thumbnails.

The adjustment is added directly above the selected layer, or at the top of the stack if no layer was selected.
If a dialog appears for the adjustment, follow the steps below:
1. Adjust the settings in the dialog.
2. (Optional) Click Add Preset to make your custom settings available in step 2 for future sessions.
3. Close the dialog.

To rename or delete a saved adjustment:

On the Adjustment panel, -click a custom adjustment, then select an option.

To view an applied adjustment's settings:

On the Layers panel, double-click the adjustment layer's thumbnail.

To reorder adjustment presets:

On the Adjustment panel, select an adjustment.
Drag an adjustment preset thumbnail to move it to a different position.

To apply an adjustment from the Layers panel:

On the Layers panel, select a layer.
Click Adjustments and select an adjustment from the pop-up menu.

The adjustment is added directly above the selected layer.
If a dialog appears for the adjustment, follow the steps below:
1. Adjust the settings in the dialog.
2. Close the dialog.

Settings

SEE ALSO: