Using overlays

About overlays

Overlays are elements within Develop Persona which are placed on top of an image. Any adjustment applied to an overlay affects the image below.

However, overlays can have a varying level of visibility, which varies the impact its adjustments have on the underlying image. In this respect, Overlays in Develop Persona act in a similar way to masks in Photo Persona.

Areas of an overlay which are transparent ignore the overlay's adjustments, while opaque areas display the applied adjustments. Areas of semi-transparency (such as those created with the Overlay Gradient Tool) will display the adjustments by a varying degree.

The adjustments applied to an overlay are determined using the Overlays panel.

Types of overlay

There are two types of overlay: Brush and Gradient.

Brush overlays can only be edited using the Overlay Paint and Overlay Erase Tools. Areas are added to an overlay using the Overlay Paint Tool. Areas are removed using the Overlay Erase Tool.

The Overlay Gradient Tool applies a gradient from transparent to opaque across Gradient overlays only.

Settings (Overlay Paint and Erase Tools only)

Size—controls the size of the overlay brush in pixels.
Hardness—how hard the edges of the brush are. The painted overlay appears softer and more feathered as the percentage decreases.
Edge Aware—when checked, enables edge detection, which allows for easier overlay painting around edges without having to zoom in and reduce the brush size.

To create an overlay do any of the following:

On the Overlays panel, select Add Brush Overlay to create a transparent, pixel overlay.
On the Overlays panel, select Add Gradient Overlay to create an opaque Gradient overlay.
With no overlay selected, drag on the image with the Overlay Paint Tool. A Brush overlay is added automatically.
With no overlay selected, drag on the image with the Overlay Gradient Tool. A Gradient overlay is added automatically.

To apply adjustments to an overlay:

On the Overlays panel, select an overlay.
From the Basic panel, tap an adjustment's checkbox to activate it.
Drag the adjustment slider to set the value.
Tap Reset to set the adjustments slider(s) back to default.

To remove an overlay:

On the Overlays panel:

Select an overlay.
Choose Delete Overlay.

About overlays

Types of overlay

Settings (Overlay Paint and Erase Tools only)

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