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.
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.
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.
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 .
Double-click the filter.
Drag the filter onto the image.