# Apply a filter

1. Choose the area you want to apply the filter to:

   - To apply a filter to an entire layer, deselect any selected areas, and then select the layer in the Layers palette.

   - To apply a filter to a portion of a layer, use any selection tool to select an area.

2. Choose how to apply the filter:

   - To use the Filter gallery, choose Filter > Filter Gallery, select a category, and click the filter you want to apply.

   - To use the Effects palette, choose Window > Effects, select a category, and double-click the filter you want to apply.

   - To use the Filter menu, choose Filter, then choose a submenu followed by the filter you want to apply. If a filter name is followed by ellipses (…), a Filter Options dialog box appears.

3. If a dialog box appears, enter values or select options.
4. If available, select the Preview option to preview the filter in the document window. Depending on the filter and how you are applying it, use one of the following methods to preview the filter:

   - Use the + button or - button under the preview window to zoom in or zoom out.

   - Click the zoom bar (where the zoom percentage appears) to choose a zoom percentage.

   - Click-drag within the preview window to center a specific area of the image in the window.

   - Click the Show/Hide button at the top of the dialog box to hide the filter thumbnails. Hiding the thumbnails expands the preview area.

   - Click the eye icon next to a filter to hide the effect in the preview image.

5. If the dialog box contains sliders, hold down Alt while dragging a slider to see a real-time preview (real-time rendering).
6. Click in the image window to center a specific area of the image in the preview window. (This may not work with all preview windows.)
   Note: A blinking line beneath the preview size indicates that the preview is being rendered.
7. If you are using the Filter Gallery, or the filter opens in the Filter Gallery, do any of the following and click OK:

   - Click the New Effect Layer button at the bottom of the dialog box and choose an additional filter to apply. You can add multiple effect layers to apply multiple filters.

   - Rearrange applied filters by dragging a filter name to another position in the list of applied filters at the bottom of the dialog box. Rearranging the order of filters can dramatically change the way your image looks.

   - Remove applied filters by selecting the filter and clicking the Delete Effect Layer button .

8. If you are using a Filter command or the Effects palette, do one of the following and click OK:

   - Double-click the filter.

   - Drag the filter onto the image.

Related Information

- Using the Effects palette

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