Re: Levels adjustment layer in a 16 bits/channel image

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:50:45 GMT

Thanks for the tip R_Kelly. I still think it’s easier to use the sliders in camera raw e.g. exposure, fill light recovery etc.

However a levels adjustment could be useful for a badly exposed image where you want to drag in the extreme white and black points of the histogram.

I wonder how many other Elements hidden secrets are available!

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:19:54 GMT

This only works in pse 10 as far as i know.

I'd also be interested if this works in pse 10 on the mac version.

Levels adjustment layer in a 16 bits/channel image

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:09:46 GMT

Since adobe removed the way i had been adding adjustment layers to 16 bits/channel images from pse 10, i had to try and find another easy way.

Here's the gist of it (if anyone's interested):

1. Open a camera raw image, in the camera raw dialog set the Bit Depth to 16 bits/channel and press open.

2. Duplicate the layer by selecting the move tool, hold down the Alt (option) key and move the image up just a bit (this duplicates the layer)

Select>All, use the align vertical centers and align horizontal centers in the tool options bar. Select>Deselect. (this aligns the layer)

3. Add a layer mask to the layer (the layer mask button on the bottom of the layers panel)

4. Make sure the layer mask is active by clicking on it. (this won't work if the layer mask is not active)

5. Choose the Smart Brush Tool, Nature and click on Cloud Contrast (levels adjustment layer added)

6. It's very important that you switch to another tool before doing anything else or elements is prone to crash.

7. Now hit Ctrl (cmd) +i to invert the layer mask (double click on the adjustment layer to open the adjustments panel)

8. Reset the Levels adjustment layer by clicking on the Reset to adjustment defaults button on the bottom of the adjustments panel.

Now your ready to adjust the levels on your image.

(i the screenshot i actually duplicated the background layer twice and renamed the Cloud Contrast 1 to Levels 1)

You can use this same method to get other kinds of adjustment layers, just try some of the different options in the smart brush menu.