How to know what is the best adjustment layer

[Jana]

One thing that makes me confused with all this tutorials , is because they tell you how to achieve something but don't tell us why we use that.
So I would like to know, how can I know what is the best to use to what I want to do what is the difference...?
levels, hue/saturation and so on..


I would like a book or a place to help me to understand why to use, when to use not just give me the easy answer.
Hope you guys can get what I mean

[jjvera00]

A great book out there is Matt Klowkowski's book titled "Layers". This will help you understand what each type of adjustment layer does. Now it is geared towards the full version of Photoshop, but the concepts are all the same.

[Diana]

Hi Jana,

Sometimes Elements tutorials instruct us to create an adjustment layer, such as Levels or Hue/Sat and then just click OK without making any changes. In that case, it really doesn't matter which type of adjustment layer to use, because it's just a way to get a layer mask to use for the subsequent steps in the tutorials. That's called "hijacking" a layer mask to use for another purpose, because Elements doesn't come with its own true layer mask.

Here's an article about working with adjustment layers:
http://www.projectwoman.com/articles/09PSAdjustmentLayers.htm

Diana

[Jana]

Thank you guys i will take a look at both options, but I would like to understand better, we dont have layers course anymore here right?

[Daviskw]

Jana don't feel bad about being confused. Elements is frustrating at times because there are so many ways to accomplish the same result using different techniques.

For instance Hue/saturation is most often used to target colors then change or shift them. Yet you can also change color with a levels adjustment layer.

They accomplish the same thing but with different control interfaces... I'll bet you are saying..."WHY"

Will the reality is their purposes may overlap but each has functions the other does not...even if behind the scenes they are doing the same thing.

Elements and Photoshop are constantly changing...adding new routines to allow better control over your photo while deleting old ones...This incremental, over time, never ending development often makes the program confusing for new users.

As stated above just about any book on Elements will explain what the adjustment layers are and when MOST people use them...But after you learn the basics you will find yourself experimenting with all the different ways to do something... It's part of the fun.

Don't give up we were all as confused as you... just experiment and have fun.

Butch

[jjvera00]

Thank you guys i will take a look at both options, but I would like to understand better, we dont have layers course anymore here right?

That is correct, the layers course is not here. But fear not, it is still available. Go to KelbyTraining.com (http://www.kelbytraining.com/online/all-classes.html) and scroll all the way to the bottom. The layers course is 3rd from the bottom. It was done using Elements 4, but it will work the same.

[Jana]

I understand what you saying but I see many tutorials to get specifics
effects, but sometimes I want to create myself one I don't know how to begin, and I think this is a lack of understanding, and most of books and video tutorials don;t tell me that.

I wish they did something like in our subscribers video with the RAW section, that they did videos explaining the RAW functions and all different abilities.
I wish we have more videos like that with the functions of pse.

[Daviskw]

I understand what you saying but I see many tutorials to get specifics
effects, but sometimes I want to create myself one I don't know how to begin, and I think this is a lack of understanding, and most of books and video tutorials don;t tell me that.

I wish they did something like in our subscribers video with the RAW section, that they did videos explaining the RAW functions and all different abilities.
I wish we have more videos like that with the functions of pse.


There are many books that will do just that...step-by-step with the reasons behind the actions.

Take a few hours...go to the local books store...Get every book you can find on Elements and find a quiet spot with a cup of tea or coffee and start reading... That's what I did and after awhile I found books that taught in the way I needed, understood, and liked.

Butch

[Jana]

Guess that's a good excuse to have my Starbucks !
This is my priority now, although I did this already but the bookstores have always the same titles.
But I will get there !

[Daviskw]

The missing Manual by Barbara Brundage is the type of book that describes every tool then gives examples of how to use it.

Sott Kelby and Matt Kloskowski’s books have a different approach… They like to describe projects and the tools they used to accomplish them. Personally I liked this approach because I could see immediate results.

After I learned the basics I started reading books that covered both Elements and Photoshop by Katrin Eismann. I learned more from her Restoration & Retouching and Masking & Composition then any book I’ve read before or after.

There are so many ways of teaching and every author has a different approach so I’m sure you will find one that suits you.

Butch

[Jana]

Thank you so much
I will search this also on the book store.

[Simenon]

Hi Butch - a question for you regarding Eismann's Masking and Composition book. I consider myself pretty much advanced when it comes to Elements though I only employ PSE 4 (which is, however, augmented with many third party plug-ins and Effects capabilities). Like you, I have learned much from reading tutorials and I own Eismann's Restoration and Retouching book which gave me a great appreciation for the kinds of improvements that can be undertaken as well as techniques and approaches to curing photo defects. However, a great deal of the techniques portion of that book is simply not possible to implement in Elements though alternative approaches can sometimes be brought into play. So my question is simply this: "Will an Elements user be able to get much benefit from her Masking and Composition tome?" The book is a bit more expensive than the typical tutorial so that causes me some hesitation. No need for a pricey tutorial that can offer me little benefit. I already have a decent comprehension of masking and composition, and it is a matter of possibly learning additional approaches to implementing them that are of interest to me. Since the book is devoted to Photoshop, is there much there for the Elements user to chew on?

~ Simenon

[Daviskw]

Hi Simeon

To me the Restoration & Retouching book is the best that can be bought...It is for the full version of Photoshop but many of the techniques will work with Elements. It did more to open my eyes to the full potential of Elements than any other book I’ve seen. BUT it is not a beginner’s book…but a second step book.

Masking and Composting does make extensive use of Photoshop’s exclusive controls and is more advanced but many techniques can still be used in Elements with add-ons and workarounds. Rather than channels much can be accomplished with desaturated layers copied to hijacked adjustment layer masks. This will mimic alpha channels and some versions of Elements can take advantage of channels, selective color, and channel mixer.

I listed my examples in the order from beginner to advanced.

Butch

[Simenon]

Hi Butch - Thanx for the reply. It would appear that my 4 cylinder Elements might be a bit underpowered to take advantage of most of the techniques offered in Eismann's Masking and Compositing book. Guess I'll take a pass on that one.

~ Simenon

PS - changed my mind and ordered the book today after availing myself of the "Browse This Book" feature at Amazon.com. Appears there could be helpful instruction there for experienced Elements users.