Adjustment Brush Tool

Adjustment Brush Tool

Learn a great alternative to using Adjustment Layers with the new Adjustment Brush Tool. 

When to use

This is a great tool to use anytime you would like to paint with a brush to make adjustments directly to your layers in a non-destructive way.

Instructions

Painting with the Adjustment Brush Tool

• Begin by opening the file from Module 8 where we applied Adjustment Layers to a few different nature or landscape photos.
• In the toolbar to the left, choose the Adjustment Brush Tool - this is the icon that looks like a brush with a small black-and-white circle next to it.
• After selecting the brush, you should see the Contextual Task Bar appear. 
• You will also see a few settings appear along the top toolbar as well.
• Next, choose the type of adjustment you'd like to make. In this case, I will be choosing 'Curves'.
• You can now begin brushing directly over your image in any of the areas you would like to apply the Curves.
• You will notice that as soon as you begin brushing, an Adjustment Layer will be added to the Layers Palette for you automatically.
• As you continue brushing, you can now change the settings to the Curves just like you would do with any Adjustment Layer.
• Just like Adjustment Layers, you can paint with black to hide or remove the areas your adjustment will be applied to, or paint with solid white to add to those areas where you'd like to see your adjustment.

Making Selections with the Adjustment Brush Tool

• Delete any of the Adjustment Layers that have been added to your Layers Palette with the Adjustment Brush Tool.
• Select the Adjustment Brush Tool once again.
• Choose which type of adjustment you'd like to make (I will be using Curves once again).
• Before we begin brushing, click on the 'Apply to Object' button in the Contextual Task Bar.
• Hover over different parts of your image, which will now be highlighted in pink, and then click to make a selection.
• Once you do this, you should see that the Adjustment Layer has been added to your Layers Palette with your selection applied to the attached Layer Mask.
• You can now modify your Adjustment Layer however you'd like to apply the adjustments to your selection.
• You can also paint over any other parts of your image to either paint in or paint out any of the adjustments.

Using the Adjustment Brush Tool with Blending Modes

• Delete any of the Adjustment Layers that have been added to your Layers Palette with the Adjustment Brush Tool.
• Select the Adjustment Brush Tool and choose 'Black & White' from the top toolbar, or the Contextual Task Bar.
• Begin painting over the trees and parts of the mountain to change them to black and white. 
• Next, change the Blending Mode of the Black & White Adjustment Layer from 'Normal' to either 'Overlay' or 'Soft Light.'
• Doing this will boost the contrast in all of the layers below the Black & White Adjustment Layer.
• Remember that because this is an Adjustment Layer, you can also reduce the fill and opacity of the layer to reduce the contrast effect.

Hints & tips

• You can also use Overlay Mode to show all of the areas your Adjustment Brush Tool has been applied to, making it easy to see any areas that you might have missed. 
• Using the Adjustment Brush Tool is similar to adding an Adjustment Layer except you can begin by brushing over your image or making a selection.
• Using Adjustment Layers becomes even more powerful when combined with different Blending Modes. 
• Harness the power of masks to gain more control over how much of an effect is visible, and where the effect will appear.