# PhotoshopElements

# Create adjustment layers

1. In the Layers palette, select the topmost layer you want to affect.
2. To confine the effects of the adjustment layer to a selected area in that layer, make a selection.
3. Do one of the following:

   - To affect all the layers below the adjustment layer, click the Create Adjustment Layer button at the top of the Layers palette, and choose one of the following adjustment types. (The first three options in the menu are fill layers, not adjustment layers.)

     Original image, and image with Hue/Saturation adjustment applied. Only the layers under the adjustment layer are affected.

   - To affect only one layer or several successive layers below the adjustment layer, choose Layer > New Adjustment Layer > [adjustment type] . In the New Layer dialog box, select Group With Previous Layer, and then click OK.

   Levels
     Corrects tonal values in the image.

   Brightness/Contrast
     Lightens or darkens the image.

   Hue/Saturation
     Adjusts colors in the image. (Available only in color mode or on color layers)

   Gradient Map
     Maps pixels to the color in the selected gradient.

   Photo Filter
     Adjust the color balance and color temperature of the image.

   Invert
     Produces a photonegative effect by creating a negative based on the brightness values of the image.

   Threshold
     Renders the image in black and white, with no gray, so that you can locate the lightest and darkest areas.

   Posterize
     Gives a flat, poster-like appearance to a photo by reducing the number of brightness values (levels) in the image, thus reducing the number of colors.

4. In the dialog box, specify options and click OK. (Invert has no options.)

   If you selected Group With Previous Layer in step 3, Photoshop Elements groups the adjustment layer with the layer immediately below it and the effect is confined to the group.

5. To add more layers to the group, press Option and position the pointer over the line dividing the bottommost layer in the group from the layer below it. Click when the pointer changes to two overlapping circles .

###

- About histograms

####

- This page on the Web