Tutorials

Simple adjustment layers

by Bruce Fraser and David Blatner

In their simplest form, adjustment layers work just like the similarly named commands on the Adjustments submenu (under the Image menu). However, there are two important differences:

• You can go back and readjust the settings at any time
• You can vary the strength of the effect by changing the layer’s opacity.

The images below show a simple set of adjustment layer edits using one Levels and one Curves layer. We start by adding a Levels layer, which we use to adjust the color balance—the image is a little blue-green—and to make a small midtone lightening

Our image, before editing.

 

When we add a Levels layer, we’re presented with the Levels dialog box.

 

We add a Curves layer to increase the shadow and midtone contrast, then we go back to the Levels layer and tweak the black point. It was easier to get the shadow contrast with the Curve when the shadow detail was left open, then go back and tweak the black point in Levels, than to set the black point and then try to tweak the contrast.

We click Options to open the Auto Color Correction Options dialog box, choose Find Dark & Light Colors and Snap Neutral Midtones, then we adjust the target midtone color to give a warming effect.

 

 

We complete the Levels tweak by making a slight midtone lightening. We’ll fine-tune the contrast with Curves next, so we deliberately leave the shadows open.

 

 

The image so far.

 

 

We add a Curves layer to increase the shadow contrast.

 

 

The image after the Curves layer is added.

 

 

We finish by going back to the Levels adjustment and making a black point tweak that gives us true black while preserving detail in the brushes.

 

 

The final image.

 

The ability to go back and refine previous edits is one of the strong points of adjustment layers. But what really floats our boat (or “snaps our bellybutton” or whatever your local colloquialism is) is the ability to turn global corrections into local ones using layer masks.