© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning Chapter 8 Working with Special Layer Functions.

© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning

Chapter 8

Working with Special Layer Functions

Chapter Lessons• Use a layer mask with a selection• Work with multiple masked layers• Control pixels to blend colors• Eliminate a layer mask• Use an adjustment layer• Create a clipping mask

© 2011 Delmar Cengage Learning

• Use special layer features to modify an entire image or an entire layer

• Define the precise area to manipulate in each layer

• Adjust the appearance of each layer without altering the original image (non-destructive changes)


Using Special Layer Features

• Turn changes on or off• Align images• Blend and adjust color• Combine elements to enhance an

image


Layer Functions

• Layer masks can cover an entire layer or specific areas within a layer

• Masks are flexible: – Hide their effect when viewing the

image or change the masks

• Add an unlimited number of masks to an image:– One mask per layer


Understanding Layer Masks


• Use tools on the Tools panel to create the area to mask

• Apply the mask to the selection or to everything except the selection

• Feather the edges of the selection, if required

Creating a Layer Mask

• The term Mask comes from printing:– A mask was opaque

material or tape used to block off an area of the artwork that would not be printed


MASK

Definition of Mask

• Add a layer mask to a layer

• Reshape the layer mask with the Brush tool and a specific brush size or tip


Painting a Layer Mask

• If the image is painted with a black foreground, the size of the mask increases:– Each brush stroke hides pixels on the

image layer– Paint with black to hide pixels


Painting with Black Foreground


Layer mask thumbnail

Layer mask is black to hide

pixels

School Bus layer

Layer Mask Examples

• If the image is painted with white as the foreground, the size of the mask decreases:– Each brush stroke restores pixels of the

layer object– Paint with white to reveal pixels


Painting with White Foreground

• Create and control a mask nondestructively

• Found in the Essentials and Color and Tone workspaces

• Grouped with the Adjustments panel


Using the Masks Panel

• Switch the foreground and background colors and paint over the mistake

• The Layer mask thumbnail on the Layers panel updates itself to reflect changes made to the mask


Correcting a Mask

• The layer mask is a powerful editing tool:– Allows repeated editing of an image

without ever disturbing the original pixels that make up the image

• By default, the mask is linked to the layer:– When the layer is moved, the mask

moves as well© 2011 Delmar Cengage Learning

Work with Multiple Masked Layers

• The Link icon appears when a layer mask is created

• When creating a layer mask, the link icon appears between the layer thumbnail and the layer mask thumbnail


Understanding the Link Icon

• Group or link layers to make multiple layers into one layer

• To link layers, the layer (not the layer mask) must be active – Link the active layer to other layers,

even those in different layer groups– Link entire layer groups to a single

layer or to other layer groups


Selecting Multiple Layers

• Select multiple layers– Note that Link

layers button is not dimmed


Link layers button

Selecting Multiple Layers

• After selecting multiple layers, perform actions that affect the group; for example:– Moving the content of selected

layers as a single unit

• Unlink layers by deselecting some/all of the selected layers


Using Multiple Selection Layers

• To align multiple layers:– Select the layers on the Layers

panel– Select one of the six options from

the Align Linked command on the Layer menu


Aligning Multiple Layers


Centers of the Bananas, Floating strawberries, and

Blueberries layers are aligned

Aligned Layers

• To distribute means to evenly space content

• Distributing procedure:– Select three or more layers– Verify opacity settings are 50% or

greater– Select one of the six options from

the Distribute command on the Layer menu


Distributing Selected Layers

• Use 1 of 10 transform commands on the Edit menu to transform an object

• Choose a transforming command:– A transform box appears around the object

to be transformed– A transform box (or bounding box) is a

rectangle that surrounds an image and contains handles used to change dimensions


Transforming Objects


Bounding Box with selection handles

surrounds object to be transformed

Transform Box

• Select the object

• Choose a transform command or a sequence of transform commands

• Apply changes by clicking the Commit transform button on the Options bar


Transforming Sequence


Strawberries scaled

Strawberries flipped

Before AfterTransforming Examples

• Alter pixels with intelligent scaling

• Make selection, click Edit > Content-Aware Scale


Content-Aware Scaling

• Control the colors and form of an image by blending pixels on one layer with pixels on another layer

• Blending options are located in the Layer Style dialog box


Blending Pixels


Layer Style Dialog Box

• Control how pixels are blended by choosing a color as the Blend If color– The Blend If color determines the

color range for the pixels to blend

• Use the This Layer and Underlying Layer sliders


Control Blending


Before Pixels

Blended

After Pixels

Blended

Blending Example

• This Layer sliders– Specify the range of pixels that will be

blended on the active layer

• Underlying Layer sliders– Specify the range of pixels that will be

blended on all the lower—but still visible—layers


Sliders

• Create interesting effects by duplicating layers:– Click the layer to duplicate– Click the Layers panel options

button– Click Duplicate Layer, then click OK


Using Duplicate Layers

• Disable a layer mask to:– Create duplicate layers and layer masks– Apply different styles and affects to layer

masks– Show and hide layer masks individually

to find the mask that gives the desired look


Disable a Layer Mask

• Options for removing layer masks:– Apply the mask to the layer so that it

becomes a permanent part of the layer– Discard the mask and its effect

completely


Removing Layer Masks

• A special layer that acts as a color filter for a single layer or all the layers beneath

• Create an adjustment layer to adjust color and tone

• Color changes made to the adjustment layer exist only in the adjustment layer, leaving the original layer unchanged


Use an Adjustment Layer

• Select the layer to adjust

• Use the Layer menu to click the new adjustments layer command or by clicking the Create new fill or adjustment layer button on the Layers panel

• Specify which of the color adjustments is required


Creating an Adjustment Layer


Creative/advanced controls

Tonal controls

Color controls

Adjustments Panel


New Adjustment Layer added to the

Layers panel

Sample Adjustment Layer

• Levels• Curves• Color Balance• Brightness/

Contrast• Hue/Saturation

• Selective Color• Channel Mixer• Gradient Map• Invert• Threshold• Posterize


Color Adjustments

• Modify an adjustment layer by double-clicking the layer thumbnail on the adjustment layer

• Use as many adjustment layers as required, but create each one individually

• Merge adjustment layers with any visible layers in the image, including multiple-selection layers


Working with Adjustment Layers

• Group of two or more contiguous layers

• Used when one layer is to act as the mask for other layers or if the adjustment layer is to affect only the layer directly beneath it

• Bottom layer of a clipping mask is called the base layer and serves as the mask


Create a Clipping Mask

• Two layers are required: – One to create the shape of the mask – One to supply the content for the mask

• Either a type or an image layer can be used to create the clipping mask shape


Creating a Clipping Mask


Clipped texture appears in the layer

Clipping Mask Sample

• Layers in a clipping mask are grouped together

• Ungroup the layers to remove the clipping mask


Removing a Clipping Mask

© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning Chapter 8 Working with Special Layer Functions.

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