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- [Gareth] Hello, and welcome to this video tutorial,
Gareth here form TastyTuts.com.
In the last episode, we learned how to apply color
adjustments to raster image layers in Photoshop.
We learned that when applying a color adjustment
to a raster image layer, it will have a destructive effect.
Now, there is an alternative feature that allows us
to apply color affects to our layers very much the same
as using adjustments, but in a non-destructive way.
These are called adjustment layers.
In this tutorial, I will be discussing adjustment layers,
how we use them, and why we use them.
I will also be referencing an additional video
I have created previously.
In this video, I will only be covering the very basics
of adjustments layers, though in the additional tutorial,
I will be going into more depth of how to use
adjustment layers so I strongly recommend you watch this
when you come to it.
By the end of watching this tutorial and watching
the other video, you'll know everything you will need
to know about adjustment layers.
So, to follow along with this video,
you will need to open this document I have prepared
especially for this tutorial.
This document can be found in the essential practice
folder in the project folder.
Now you can download this project folder for free,
the download link is in the description.
So with the project folder open, click Essential Practice,
open the Adjustment Layers folder,
and open the Adjustment Layers PSD and you should have
something that looks like this.
Now in this video, I will be referring to
the Properties panel.
If you wish to follow along, you too will need your
Properties panel viable.
If you cannot see your Properties panel,
you can come up to Window,
scroll down and activate it there.
Now, for the sake of this video, I'm going to drag mine
out from my panel set so you can clearly see
what's going on.
So just like in the previous video, on the left we have
some examples of raster image layers,
and on the right a smart object layer.
So if we take a look at the examples on the left,
we can see that clearly
we have two very different color effects applied.
Now if we look in the Layers panel,
we will notice something we have not seen
up until this point on the course.
If we look closely, we can see what appear to be layers
on top of the two bird raster Layers panel.
Well, these are in fact adjustment layers.
Here we can see a Hue Saturation applied to the top layer,
and a Black and White applied to the bottom layer.
Now, check this out.
So on each of the layers, we have a button to toggle
the visibility of the layer.
So I'm going to toggle the visibility of each of these
adjustment layers, and all of a sudden each of the examples
are back to the original image.
If I come back and turn on the visibility again,
we will see the effect applied.
Now, if I click onto each of the adjustment layers,
notice, in the Properties panel,
we have the values in order to toggle the current effect.
For example, on the Hue Saturation,
I'll tweak the Hue like so, and we can see the color change
in the image.
So instead of permanently changing the image
like using adjustments, as seen in the previous video,
here we can apply a non destructive layer
in the Layers panel.
Pretty cool right?
So when applying color adjustments to images in Photoshop,
I would always recommend using adjustment layers
over simple adjustments, as you will have the flexibility
to change and turn off your effects as you please.
So now, let's come across to the smart object layer,
now in the Layers panel, it does not matter what type
of layer you have, a type layer, a smart object layer,
a raster layer or a shape layer.
You will be able to apply an adjustment layer
to any kind of layer.
So let's see how this is done.
And I'm going to apply an adjustment layer to my bird
smart object layer here on the right.
So before we apply an adjustment layer
to a particular layer,
we must first select it in the layers panel.
So I'm going to come over and select the birds smart object
and just like our example over on the left,
I want to apply a Hue Saturation adjustment layer.
So with the layer selected, I'll come down to the bottom
of the Layers panel,
at the bottom of the panel we have some icons.
Now, the one we want to pay attention to here,
is the Add Adjustment Layer icon.
This is the circle icon, half white and half black,
fourth from the left.
So I'll click this icon, and up will pop a list
of adjustment effects.
Now you may be familiar with the options we have here.
They are very similar to the adjustments we applied
in the previous video.
So from this list, I'll go ahead and select
the Hue Saturation.
So upon click, we will now see a new adjustment layer
appear on top of my bird smart object layer.
Great.
Also, you will notice that the Properties panel
will now spring to life and we can see the familiar
effect values we can toggle.
So I'll go ahead and change the hue.
Now as I do so, notice that not only is my smart object
image changing color,
but also the raster image over on the left.
Now why is this?
Well, adjustment layers work to apply the effect
to any layer below them in the Layers panel.
As we can see, this adjustment layer exists at the top
of the Layers panel.
So, as I tweaked the values of the hue,
every layer below will be affected.
Now since the other layer is black and white,
the hue adjustment will not apply to this.
Now there is a way, however, to make this adjustment layer
only apply to the layer immediately below it
on the Layers panel.
So if we look closely in the Layers panel,
we can see that the other adjustment layers
apply to the layers below have these small arrows.
Well this means, that these adjustment layers
only apply to the layer immediately below.
So with my new adjustment layer selected
in the Layers panel, over in the Properties panel,
if we look at the bottom of the panel,
we have some icons here.
So what I need to do, is click the bottom left icon.
This is an adjustment clip action.
By clickin' this icon, it will set the adjustment layer
to only apply to the layer immediately below.
So upon click, we will see a little arrow appear
on the new adjustment layer and it will only apply
to the smart object layer below.
Excellent.
So that's a brief introduction to how we can use
adjustment layers in Photoshop.
Now there is a lot more to be learned
about using adjustment layers.
If you would like to learn more,
such as applying masks to adjustment layers,
and using multiple adjustment layers on a single layer,
I recommend you watch my other tutorial,
where I go into this in a lot more detail.
Simply click the screen or find the link
in the description, or in the course PDF.
This is essential training for any beginner to Photoshop.
After watching this video, you will have a complete
understanding on how to use adjustment layers.
Now in Photoshop, there are a wide range of filters
that enable us to completely change and manipulate
the physical appearance of an image layer
to create various visual effects.
In the next video,
we are going to learn about filters in Photoshop.
See you in the next video.
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