13 Replies Latest reply: Aug 9, 2011 12:26 PM by Bill Hunt RSS

    Layer adjustments problem

    Tnmike Community Member

      I can make a selection using any selection tool and then make a layer from the selection. When I use the Layer adjustments to make a change to that selection, the adjustment  is made on the entire image, not just the selection.  This has not been a problem in the past.  Has something changed or am I going brain dead and doing something wrong.  Thanks for any help

        • 1. Re: Layer adjustments problem
          Noel Carboni Community Member

          Tnmike wrote:

           

          I can make a selection using any selection tool and then make a layer from the selection.

           

          Can you be a little more specific about what you mean by "make a layer from the selection"?

           

          Are you talking about adding an adjustment layer, and expecting the selection to become a layer mask?  If so, are you actually SEEING the layer mask being created in the Layers panel when you're doing this?

           

          -Noel

          • 2. Re: Layer adjustments problem
            Chris Cox Adobe Employee

            It hasn't changed, and yes you missed something.

            • 3. Re: Layer adjustments problem
              Noel Carboni Community Member

              Something else to check:

               

              AdjustmentsPanelOptions.jpg

               

              -Noel

              • 4. Re: Layer adjustments problem
                Tnmike Community Member

                You can make a selection on a photo and then convert that selection to a layer either via copy or via cut just to name two methods of converting a selection to a layer.  When everything works correctly you can make corrections (color, hue etc) to just the selection without affecting the rest of the image.  It can be done from the image tab or the layer adjustments palet. When I try to do this now, any adjustments made on the selection layer are also made on the background layer.  Hope this is a better explanation.

                • 5. Re: Layer adjustments problem
                  Tnmike Community Member

                  The "add mask by default" is checked.

                  • 6. Re: Layer adjustments problem
                    Noel Carboni Community Member

                    Okay, so you select part of an image, Edit - Copy, then Edit - PasteYou now have a layer over the top of the original layer containing some of the pixels and which is partially transparent.  Yes, that's one way to do it, though I would suggest looking into layer masks and adjustment layers some time...

                     

                    But back to your scenario...  If you make sure the newly created layer is current, then do something to it, for example Image - Adjust - Curves, you're saying the entire image is affected?

                     

                    You may have some kind of system problem (e.g., with the a display driver) if that is the case.

                     

                    -Noel

                    • 7. Re: Layer adjustments problem
                      Tnmike Community Member

                      I normally use Layer-New-Layer via Cut or Copy.  Yes the entire image is affected but only when I use the adjustment layers.  Using Image-adjustments-curves, the entire image is not affected, only the selection.  Using an adjustment layer for the selection, the entire image is affected.

                      • 8. Re: Layer adjustments problem
                        Noel Carboni Community Member

                        What you're seeing makes sense to me.  A normal Adjustment Layer normally affects EVERYTHING showing below it.

                         

                        Either you had been clipping the adjustment layer to the new layer (which causes the adjustments to just affect that layer's pixels), or you had used a layer mask on the adjustment layer corresponding to your selection.

                         

                        There's a persistent default setting for clipping adjustment layers by default that may have become set the opposite way you like it.  It's called "Clip to Layer" and it's just below the other setting I pointed out to you in the image above.

                         

                        -Noel

                        • 9. Re: Layer adjustments problem
                          Tnmike Community Member

                          Noel, that is the correction to my problem.  Thank you for your time and help.

                          • 10. Re: Layer adjustments problem
                            Noel Carboni Community Member

                            You're welcome, happy to help.

                             

                            -Noel

                            • 11. Re: Layer adjustments problem
                              acresofgreen Community Member

                              If you prefer keyboard shortcuts to going through menus, you can clip the adjustment layer to the layer containing your selection (or any layer immediately below the adjustment layer) by holding down the Alt key and clicking on the line separating the two layers in the layers panel.  When you hover with the cursor over the line while holding the Alt key, the cursor takes on the shape of two intersecting circles - that's when you need to click.

                               

                              Capture.JPG

                              • 12. Re: Layer adjustments problem
                                Tnmike Community Member

                                Thanks acresofgreen, I will certainly try this.

                                • 13. Re: Layer adjustments problem
                                  Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

                                  Do try that. Acersofgreen's Alt+click will limit your Adjustment Layer to your "new" Layer, and will NOT affect those Layers below.

                                   

                                  Good luck,

                                   

                                  Hunt