PhotoPlus X2 User Guide - Serif

138 Layers and Masks
Using adjustment layers
Adjustment layers let you insert any number of image adjustments
experimentally. Unlike the other layer types, adjustment layers don't store content
in the form of bitmap images, text, or shapes. Rather, an adjustment layer applies
the adjustment to content on all layers below it (you can restrict the effects of the
adjustment to one underlying layer by adding both to a group; see p. 136).
Adjustment layers all have corresponding entries on the Image menu—but instead
of altering the image or layer directly as with the Image>Adjust commands,
adjustment layers let you revisit the settings for a given adjustment as often as
needed, while continuing to edit the image in other ways. If you later decide you
don't even need an adjustment, you can simply remove it!
The following adjustments are available as adjustment layers:
• Levels: Adjust contrast and tonal range by shifting dark, light, and mid-tone
values.
• Curves: Fine-tune lightness (luminance) values in the image or colour channel
using a line graph.
• Colour Balance: Adjust colour and tonal balance for general colour correction
in the image.
• Brightness/Contrast: Vary brightness and/or contrast.
• Hue/Saturation/Lightness: Vary hue, saturation, and/or lightness values, or
colourize an image.
• Selective Colour: Add or subtract a certain percentage of cyan, magenta,
yellow, and/or black ink.
• Channel Mixer: Modify a colour channel using a mix of the current colour
channels.
• Gradient Map: Remap greyscale (lightness) information in the image to a
selected gradient.
• Lens Filter: Apply a colour filter to warm up (or cool down) your image.
• Threshold: Create a monochromatic (black and white) representation.