Photoshop, layers and adjustment layers

[kalikilum]

Is there a way in Photoshop to have a adjustment layer only effect one layer instead of all of the layers occuring below it?

Something like below where...
"Levels 1" effects all layers
"Curves 1" only effects Curves adjust
and the 2 image layers need to be in that order.


Does this make any sense?

[chloew]

In Paint Shop Pro this is done with Layer Groups, but I'm not sure if PS has these or what they are called. Check for a way to define a group of layers, separate from the whole collection of all layers.

[spitstickler]

Yep, you can do that with a clipping mask. Make sure your adjustment layer selected and is directly above the layer you want it to affect. Command + Option + G on the mac creates the shortcut... probably substitute the Command with control on the PC and be in business. You should also be able to find this under the Layer menu -> Create clipping mask.

The palette should look like this in CS2:

[kalikilum]

Awesome! thanks Kirk :)

[PhotoByMark]

Kirk - Neat. I know I could do a group with layer and adjment layer but this looks like a better way. I better go read all about clipping masks now. LOL.

[TXhummer2]

search-read, search-read, search-read....oh, and Thanks!

[jeffkohn]

Reading the description of clipping groups in the Fraser/Blatner CS2 book I'm not so sure they do the same thing as Cristy was originally asking for though. In the book it says that the bottom layer in a clipping group serves as the mask for that group. To me that sounds different than the adjustment layer applying to just the layer below it.

I'll have to do some experimentation with this approach versus layer sets to see if the results are the same...

[jeffkohn]

OK so I tested the clipping group method as well as creating a layer group and got exactly the opposite results from what I expected. The clipping group does limit the effect of the adjustment layer. Even more interestingly, grouping layers doesn't seem to have any effect on what they apply to. Apparently it just gives you an easy way to turn on/off or adjust the opacity of the group as a whole.

Cool, learned something new today.

[PhotoByMark]

Jeff - Look forward to hearing your results.

[Cerbera LM]

http://ronbigelow.com/articles/layers-3/layers-3.htm

Scroll down to see an example of clipping masks.