Adding an adjustment layer
Adjustment layers can be added to an image to apply color and tonal adjustments without permanently changing the pixel values in the image. For example, if you add a Color Balance adjustment layer to an image, you can experiment with different colors repeatedly, because the change occurs only on the adjustment layer. If you decide to return to the original pixel values, you can hide or delete the adjustment layer.
You’ve used adjustment layers in other lessons. Here, you’ll add a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to change the color of the purple flower. An adjustment layer affects all layers below it in the image’s stacking order unless a selection is active when you create it or you create a clipping mask.
- Select the Flower2 layer in the Layers panel.
Click the Hue/Saturation icon in the Adjustments panel to add a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer.
In the Properties panel, apply the following settings:
- Hue: 43
- Saturation: 19
- Lightness: 0
The changes affect the Flower2, Pineapple Copy, Pineapple, Clouds, and Background layers. The effect is interesting, but you want to change only the Flower2 layer.
Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac OS) the layer name on the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer, and choose Create Clipping Mask.
An arrow appears in the Layers panel, indicating that the adjustment layer applies only to the Flower2 layer. You’ll learn more about clipping masks in Lessons 6 and 7.