Photoshop CS - Working with Layers
Blending Modes and Layer Styles
Regular Layer Opacity
ENABLE ONE IMAGE TO GHOST OVER AN OTHER
CAN BE ADJUSTED ON A LAYER, NOT A BACKGROUND
IT AFFECTS THE LAYER STYLES & BLEND MODES
THAT HAVE BEEN APPLIED TO THE LAYER
FILL OPACITY
ADJUSTING OPACITY
In the Layers panel
- Select you desired layer
- At the top of the panel - Access Opacity text box & enter a %
- Access the slider by clicking the arrow
- Dbl-Click a layer thumbnail & choose : LAYER- Layer Style –Blending mode
- From the Pop-up menu : Select Blending options
- ANY OF THESE WILL BRING THE LAYER STYLE DIALOG BOX
ADJUSTING FILL OPACITY
Methods for adjusting fill opacity are similar to the regular opacity option
27 Blend Modes
DETERMINE HOW THE COLORS IN DIFFERENT LAYERS INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER
CAN BE APPLY, CHANGE, DISCARD, WITH NO DAMAGE TO LAYERS
(Different names : Painting, Brush, Layer modes, Calculations or plain Modes)In the Options Bar
In the AP : LAYER-Layer style-Blending Options
In the Layers panel : Layers panel pop-up menu
At the bottom under the fx icon
Work with OPACITY : Allows to mix the active layer with the layers below (e.g. image ghosted over another) adjusted on a layer not a background (Layers panel /on the Option Bar)
Fill opacity : Affects only layer pixels, not styles or blend modes (In the Layers panel)
GENERAL
Normal: Pixels in unadulterated state
Dissolve : The lower the opacity the more intense the effect (opacity must be less than 100%)
Behind & Clear
- Available with painting & editing tools only (on the OB)
- Type must be rasterized
- Lock Transparency desactivated
- Only on a transparent area of the layer,
- Giving the illusion that (Behind : strokes are behind the layer) & (Clear : holes are being punch)
MODES THAT DARKEN
Darken : Lighter pixels turn transparent & darker ones appear unchanged
Multiply : Burns the layer into the layers underneath. Darker where they mix.
Color burn : Like applying dark dye
Linear burn : Decreases the brightness –similar to multiply –portion of the image turn pure black
Darker color : When blending 2 layers, the darker of the 2 colors will be visible
Lighten : Lighter pixels turn transparent & darker ones appear unchanged
Screen : Lighter only where light colors mix.
LIGHTING (lumière) blend modes- special effects
Overlay : Multiply darker pixels in the top layer & lightens the underlying layers
(contrast)
Soft : Image softer & subtler
Hard : Adds highlight & shadow
Vivid : Increase the contrast (Clair/obscur)
Linear : decreases the brighness (contrast in darker color)
Pin : (yellwish ?)
Hard mix : creates a posterized effet (depending on the colors)
THAT INVERT the colors
& can produce interesting special effects
Difference & Exclusion (have to experience with the colors)
HSL color model blend modes (too complex)
Hue (color) : Blends brightness & intensity of color (saturation)with the color of the top layer
Saturation :
Color : For colorizing greyscale. Preserves shadows, highlights, & details of the top layer
Luminosity : Opposite of Color –preserves underlying layers
Advanced Blending options in the Layer Styles dialog box
Layer Styles
LAYER STYLES = A BUNCH OF EFFECTS (fx)
EFFECTS
Drop shadow, Glow, Bevel (3-D edges) Emboss (raised or punch), Satin (draped fabric effect), Overlay (color, gradient, pattern), Stroke
Effects’ adjustments
Adjust numerous options (mode, color, opacity, angle, size & contour)
APPLYING EFFECTS
Can be applied to : Shape layers, fill layers & type layers
Can not be applied to : Backgrounds, completely locked layers, layer groups
Is link to the layer (moves with it)
In the Layers panel (OR In the Adjustment Panel :
- Select LAYER-Layer style-Choose an effect from the submenu
- Select layer
- Click fx icon & select an effect from pop-up menu
- Make the adjustments in the Layer style dialog box
- Select preview in dial box
- To accept default setting –Click OK
- Click Ok after refining your default settings
Managing and Editing Layer Styles
EDITING
- Dbl-Cl Effect name or Effects labels
- Dbl-Cl layer thumnail
- Layer style icon in the Layers panel
MANAGING
Hide effects, display hidden effects/Remove all effects/ Resize
See LAYER - Layer Style
- Move a style on a separate layer :
- Select styled layer
- LAYER – Layer style - Create Layer
- In the Layers panel you will see eg. (Layer 0’s Drop shadow)
- Advantage : More manual edting capability & allows filters
- Problem : no more editing with dialog box – no update with the layer itself
- Copy & paste effects onto other layers
- Alt + drag & drop an effect from one layer to another
OR
- Select layer to copy :LAYER- Layer style- Copy layer style
- Select layer or layers to paste on : LAYER- Layer style- Paste layer style
- Choose several effects : Check the effect & /or to access options Cl the effect name (highligted)
- Remove an effect: Deselect the check box in the dialog box or in the Layers panel (drag & drop in the trash icon)
Playing with Contours
- Rings of transparency within the shadows & glows
- With bevel & emboss – you can create nooks, crannies, bumps, and lumps that are highlighted & shaded
- In the contour panel pop-up menu see options for naming, deleting,saving, loading, resetting & replacing contour librairies.
Adjusting contours : eg : noise, jitter
Gradients and Layer Styles
IF YOU WANT TO APPLY A LAYER STYLES CONTAINING A GRADIENT –YOU HAVE TO DRAW A LINE FOR THE GRADIENT IN YOUR DOC (IMAGE)
GRADIENTS &LAYER STYLES
- The foreground color is the beginning color of a default gradient applied by GT
- The BCKG color is the ending color of the default gradient
Working with gradients
- Presets or Create your own
In the Options Bar
- Reverse : the order of the colors
- Dither : Add noise or random info
- Transparency : if deselect (opaque)