Adobe® Photoshop® 7.0 Classroom in a Book®

Creating 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.

Here you’ll add a Curves adjustment layer to create a greater contrast between the grille and the rust layer behind it. You’ll do this by darkening the entire rust image. An adjustment layer affects all layers below it in the image’s stacking order. Because you’ll place the Curves adjustment layer below ...