Adjustment Layers Are So Non-Destructive

The semester has officially begun, and the students are settling in. Though I love teaching, that first week of classes each semester can be a bit harrowing as you navigate a new schedule, new faces, and new coursework. On top of all that, I wanted to find time to get another video up, and I did.

Adjustment layers have been around for a while now in Photoshop, but most people ignore them because they are not sure how to use them. But for me, it all comes back to using the tools that are non-destructive in my painting creation.

Adjustment Layers Abound

When it comes to that little button in the layers panel, there are a ton of settings that you can play with. You can change the hue and saturation with sliders, manipulate the curve of the image, or even add more contrast. And all this is done independently of your image. Meaning that all you have to do is turn the adjustment layer off if you no longer want the adjustment to be visible.

This is extremely useful in my profession as a theatre designer. Creating a costume and then changing the color when I first started meant creating a completely new rendering. Not any longer. Now it's just a simple addition of a layer, and BAM, I've gone from a red dress to a black dress.

Initially I thought adjustment layers were not as useful for general digital painters, but I've found myself using them from time to time to adjust pieces ever so slightly. And that, for me, is where the power is. It's the little details that make a painting, so if I can tweak them in numerous different ways without destroying the painting, I'm happy.

Have you used adjustment layers in your painting? If so, let me know how, I'd love to hear about it.

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