Editing channels

You can select one or more channels for further editing. The selected channel ready for editing is indicated on the panel by both the Visible as well as the Editable icons.

Separated out colour channels of a RGB image.

(A) Composite Green channel selected and editable. (B) Spare Channel created and renamed.

About editing channels

The Channels panel displays a list of channels based on current document information and available for editing. Pixel Selection will always appear at the bottom of the panel even when no selection is active.

To hide/show channels:

Do one of the following:

Editable Channel To protect channels from editing:

Do one of the following:

Editing spare channels

The spare channel that stores your mask can be isolated for editing. This lets you paint and erase directly on the spare channel, as well as apply filters such as Gaussian Blur for softer mask edges.

Edit Menu

To edit individual channels:
  1. From the Channels panel, tap Edit for each of the Background channels in turn and select Create Spare Channel.
  2. (Optional) Use the Edit menu to rename the newly created spare channels.
  3. 
Tap Edit on the spare channel entry you wish to isolate and select Load to Pixel Selection.
  4. (Optional) Select another spare channel and tap the Edit menu again. Select Subtract From Pixel Selection—this aids precise area isolation if there is an undesired overspill of colour onto other areas.
  5. Add an Adjustment of choice.
  6. From the top menu, choose Select>Deselect.
  7. Return to the Adjustment and modify it further.
To rename or duplicate a spare channel:

The duplicate is stored below the original as a new spare channel entry.

SEE ALSO: