Layers and some of their uses

uncle aj · Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 10:50 am Post subject: Layers and some of their uses

Layers are one of the most useful techniques to use in Photoshop. Once you get the hang of it, it's quite easy and can be put to a whole host of uses. For this demonstration, I have used a picture I took in Prague several years ago. As you can see from the picture the foreground and buildings are under exposed and the sky is about right.

The first thing we do is created a duplicate layer. There will be two layers of the picture laid on top of each other.

Next we select Adjustments and Levels

On the "Histogram" alter the levels so that the foreground is exposed to your likeness. You will notice the sky is completely washed out now but don't worry as this will be fixed later.

Next make a layer mask as below.

Now comes the fun, select the brush tool

and the black colour from the colour swatch.

Now ensure the “Opacity” & “Flow” are set to 100% and with the brush set to a suitable size, go over the light area where you want the original sky exposure to come through.

Now should you go over part of the picture where you did not want the bottom layer to come through as in the picture below the yellow arrow, do not despair.

Pick the white colour from the swatch and go over the area in question and it will change back to the way it was.

Here are the original and the altered images for comparison.

This technique can be used for several applications. For instance one layer can be changed to black and white and a colour item made to come through as with this example. The top layer was changed to black & white and the dial from the original brought through.

Chip first put me on to using layers and I’d like to express my gratitude.

Tools · Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 4:41 pm Post subject:

Excellent.. A keeper..
_________________

- Larry
#12

uncle aj · Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 4:45 pm Post subject:

steve · Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:55 am Post subject:

Beautiful shot!, love the contrasts .Great patina on the hand :lol:

steve

uncle aj · Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:57 am Post subject:

steve · Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:59 am Post subject:

I was referring to your hand!!

steve

uncle aj · Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 8:05 am Post subject:

johnnyoxygen · Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 1:24 pm Post subject:

who's a clever boy then,nice one adrian,will have to invest in a copy of photoshop,cheers.

steve · Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 8:53 pm Post subject:

I'm using "photoshop elements" waaaaaay!!!!!!! cheaper than the full blown version not sure what i'm missing but it seems to cover everything i need and more i don't understand

at my level, guess there must be some greater detailing/excellence available with the full blown version

steve

uncle aj · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 5:04 am Post subject: