Using channels

Color modes and channels

For each color mode, the following channels are available:

RGB: Red, Green, Blue channels
CMYK: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black channels
Grayscale: Intensity channel
Lab: Lightness, AOpponent, BOpponent channels

Image and layer channels

The Channels Studio always displays an image's channels when loaded. From an image channel you can:

Protect the channel from editing.
Hide the channel.
Create a spare channel (i.e., a saved selection) from any channel's information.
Store a new selection based on the channel information.
Add, subtract, or intersect a channel's selection to/from/with a previously made selection, respectively.

For any currently selected layer (pixel, mask, adjustment or live filter), the layer's channel(s) are displayed below the image channels. From each layer's channel you can:

Invert, clear, and fill the channel information.
Create a new grayscale layer.
Create a new mask layer.
Create a Spare Channel (i.e., a saved selection) from the channel information.

Alpha channels

The Channels Studio also displays the alpha channel for the whole image or currently selected pixel, mask, adjustment, or live filter layer. These channels store transparency information, so it's a great place for more advanced masking control.

Pixel selections

Another great use of alpha channels is the ability to store more complex selections that would otherwise be difficult or time consuming to recreate again. The Channels Studio reports your current pixel selection as a channel entry, so by creating a 'new' Spare Channel from that pixel selection you've stored the selection for future use.

Pixel selections and masks

Because alpha channels store both selection and masks, the Channels Studio acts as a great central point for working between masks and selections.

Blend ranges

You can control how specific color channels of the current layer blend with the underlying layer(s). For more information, see Layer blend ranges.

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.

To create a mask or grayscale layer from a current layer's channel:

From the More button, select Create Mask Layer or Create Grayscale Layer.

The new layer is added to the Layers Studio.

To invert, clear or fill a layer's channel:

From the More button, tap one of Invert, Clear or Fill.

To save a selection as an alpha channel:

With a pixel selection in place, tap the More button on the Pixel Selection (Alpha) entry. Select Create Spare Channel from the pop-up menu.

The selection is stored at the bottom of the Channels Studio as a new 'Spare Channel' entry.

To edit a spare channel and apply to a mask:

From the Layers Studio, select a mask layer.
From the Channels Studio, tap the More button on the Mask Alpha layer, and choose Create Spare Channel.
 Tap the More button on the newly created 'Spare Channel' entry and tap Edit to isolate it.
Edit the spare channel.
Reselect the mask layer in the Layers Studio to exit isolation mode.
 Tap the More button on the 'Spare Channel' entry and choose Load to Mask Alpha to apply the edited spare channel to your mask.

 Before editing a spare channel, you have the option of duplicating the initial spare channel. This procedure is often used to preserve an unedited backup copy of a spare channel before editing the original.

To duplicate a spare channel:

Tap the More button on the 'Spare Channel' entry and select Duplicate.

The duplicate is stored below the original as a new 'Spare Channel' entry.

To rename a spare channel:

Tap the More button on the 'Spare Channel' entry and select Rename.
Enter a new name for the channel, then tap OK.