Adjustment Layers - 4

Adjustment Layers - 4

Learn. how to use the last section of Adjustment Layers consisting of the Invert Adjustment Layer through Selective Color.

When to use

This group of Adjustment Layers can be used to create very stylized looks and effects, especially when combined with Filters and Blending Modes.

Instructions

Invert Adjustment Layers

• To get started, go to the File Menu and choose 'Place Embedded'.
• Navigate to the third photo from the resources folder and then choose 'Place' from the lower right corner.
• After importing the photo, you will notice that it's the same size as the other two so it should fit perfectly to your canvas.
• The photo will also come in as a Smart Object with its file name automatically included.
• With your Smart Object selected, go to the Adjustment Layer Icon at the bottom of the Layers Palette and choose 'Invert' from the menu. 
• You'll notice that this simply inverts the image beneath the Adjustment Layer.
• This effect can be useful for creating an 'x-ray' sort of look, especially when combined with a Black & White Adjustment Layer.
• After seeing how this Adjustment Layer works, turn the visibility of the layer off.

Posterize Adjustment Layers

• Return to the Adjustment Layer Icon at the bottom of the Layers Palette once again, and this time choose the 'Posterize' option from the menu that appears.
• This Adjustment Layer can create a paper cutout or stencil effect, but generally, it works best when the 'Levels' are at '5' or lower. 
• Once you move the Levels slider past 10 there is really no noticeable difference in what happens to the image.
• Turn the visibility of this Adjustment Layer off by clicking on the eyeball to toggle the visibility.

Threshold Adjustment Layers

• Go to the Adjustment Layer Icon again, and this time choose 'Threshold' from the menu.
• Using the Threshold Adjustment Layer will turn all of the layers below black and white while also increasing the contrast.
• This can also be a great way to create a comic book ink effect.
• Like all of our Adjustment Layers, there are built-in Layer Masks.
• Turn the visibility of the Threshold Adjustment Layer off for a moment, and then select the Smart Object layer.
• Switch to the Magic Wand Tool (W) and click anywhere in the sky to select the areas of blue.
• Go to the Select Menu and choose 'Similar' which can help grab any other sections of blue that we may have missed.
• With your selection active, turn the Threshold Adjustment Layer back on and select the Layer Mask.
• Make sure that you have a solid black foreground color and then press Alt/Option+Delete to fill the selection with black.
• Doing this will allow the original sky to appear in full color, while the rest of the photo is affected by the Threshold Adjustment Layer.
• Hold the Control Key and click on the Layer Mask Icon before choosing 'Delete Layer Mask' to remove it. 

Gradient Map Adjustment Layers

• Go to the Adjustment Layer Icon again, and this time choose 'Gradient Map' from the list.
• Using the Gradient Map Adjustment is a great way to create duotone effects in your images.
• You can use all of your gradient presets for your Gradient Map Adjustment Layer.
• Choose one of the preset gradients and then see how it looks when you check off the 'Reverse' box in the Properties Panel.
• Generally, the gradients will look better when your darker color is applied to the shadows of an image, and the lighter color is applied to highlights.
• Gradient Maps can be very useful, especially when combined with other Adjustment Layers and Blending Modes.
• Reduce the opacity of the Gradient Map Adjustment Layer to somewhere around 50-60% for a more subtle look.
• Turn the visibility of your Threshold Adjustment Layer back on, and notice how combining these two Adjustment Layers creates a very fun-looking effect.
• Next, turn the visibility of all of the Adjustment Layers off.

Selective Color Adjustment Layers

• Go to the Adjustment Layer Icon and choose 'Selective Color' from the bottom of the Adjustment Layer Menu.
• Change the 'Colors' to 'Yellows' so that we can focus on targeting only the yellow parts of the photo.
• Use the Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black sliders to control the amount of each of those colors in the yellow parts of the image only.
• Reducing the Cyan and increasing the Magenta here will make the leaves in the image appear more rusty and orange.
• This effect becomes even more visible when we toggle the visibility of the Selective Color Adjustment Layer on and off.
• Experiment with the opacity and visibility of each of these five Adjustment Layers.
• In this case, I am only using Selective Color, Gradient Map, and Threshold at a low opacity while Posterize and Invert are both turned off.
• Once you're happy with the results, select your top Adjustment Layer, hold the Shift Key, and select the very first Adjustment Layer above your Smart Object.
• With all five of your Adjustment Layers selected, use the keyboard shortcut Alt/Option+Shift+G to apply a Clipping Mask.
• Select the Smart Object Layer by holding the Command/Ctrl Key and clicking on it.
• You should now have the Smart Object Layer and all five of the Adjustment Layers that are clipped to it, selected at the same time.
• Press Command/Ctrl+G to place these layers into a new folder and rename it 'IMAGE 3'.

Hints & tips

• Using the Posterize and Threshold Adjustment Layers can be very useful for creating artistic and stylized-looking effects.
• You can use any of your gradient presets with the Gradient Map Adjustment Layers.
• Experiment with the order of your Adjustment Layers and combine them to create more unique and interesting looks.