Adobe Photoshop

**Physicsguy** · 01-29-2012, 10:19 AM

After innumerable amounts of tutorial-watching, I think I have the basic hang of Photoshop. However, one HUGE thing has bugged me that no tutorial has seem to cover.

If you've ever used GIMP, you'll know that when you create a new layer, it functions differently from the other layers. But if I cut out a new layer in Photoshop, then apply 'Curves', or any adjustment in the Adjustments box, it applies that adjustment to the whole image. It's not until I 'Merge Down' the adjustment layer that it is 'applied' to just the layer I need. This is a nightmare when I need to colour-correct part of an image.

Can this behaviour be changed to act more like GIMP? When I have just one layer selected, I'd assume everything I do will happen to just that layer.

Thanks!

-PG

**Giselle** · 01-29-2012, 11:40 AM

Not sure I can help you Scott because I don't have Adobe. I have a copy of Gimp but rarely work with the software. Have you tried duplicating the the layer with the image, apply the curves adjustments to the duplicated copy of the image? I work with a lot of layers. Also you should have a selection / lasso tool where you can select part of the image for making adjustments in just the one layer and just part of the image.

Probably not much help here, enjoy your software though!

**Physicsguy** · 01-29-2012, 11:50 AM

Ah, selecting just the part I need seems to work. Shift-Ctrl-Alt-3 also helps to select all the pixels in a layer, or by inverting a selection to all the transparent pixels. Thank you very much!

**Giselle** · 01-29-2012, 12:02 PM

Well that's good, at least I helped a little bit! Have fun with your graphic project!

**cantletugo** · 04-05-2012, 01:35 AM

Layers are tricky that way but I think Adobe intentionally did it this way so you can keep your filters separate until you merge - more control this way.