Creating adjustment layers or fill layers

Adjustment layers and fill layers have the same opacity and blending mode options as image layers and can be rearranged in order, deleted, hidden, and duplicated in the same manner as image layers. By default, adjustment layers and fill layers take the name of the adjustment/fill type. Adjustment layers display a partially filled circle to the right of the layer name.

To create an adjustment layer or fill layer:

1 To confine the effects of the adjustment layer or fill layer to a selected area, make a selection. To confine the effects of an adjustment layer to the layers immediately below it, create a grouped layer consisting of these layers. (See Creating grouped layers.)

2 Do one of the following:

3 Choose from the following layer properties, and then click OK.

Solid Color Specify a color. (See Using the Adobe Color Picker.)

Gradient Click the gradient to display the Gradient Editor, or click the inverted arrow () and choose a gradient from the pop-up palette. (See Creating or editing gradient fills.) Set additional options if desired. Style specifies the shape of the gradient. Angle specifies the angle at which the gradient is applied. Scale changes the size of the gradient. Reverse flips the orientation of the gradient. Dither reduces banding by applying dithering to the gradient. Align With Layer uses the bounding box of the layer to calculate the gradient fill. You can use the mouse to move the center of the gradient by clicking and dragging in the image window.

Pattern Click the pattern, and choose a pattern from the pop-up palette. Click Scale and enter a value or drag the slider to scale the pattern. Click Snap to Origin to position the origin of the pattern with that of the document window. (See Using rulers and the grid.) Select Link With Layer to specify that the pattern moves with the fill layer as it is relocated. When Link With Layer is selected, you can drag in the image to position the pattern while the Pattern Fill dialog box is open. You can edit the pattern settings, then click the New Preset button () to create a new preset pattern. For more information on creating patterns and loading pattern presets, see Creating and editing patterns and Working with presets.

Levels Specify values for the highlights, shadows, and midtones. (See Using the Levels dialog box.)

Brightness/Contrast Specify values for Brightness and Contrast. (See Using the Brightness/Contrast command.)

Hue/Saturation Choose which colors to edit, and specify values for Hue, Saturation, and Lightness. (See Using the Hue/Saturation command.)

Gradient Map Choose a gradient and set gradient options. (See Using the Gradient Map command.)

Invert Invert adjustment layers don't have options. (See Using the Invert command.)

Threshold Specify a threshold level. (See Using the Threshold command.)

Posterize Specify the number of tonal levels for each color channel. (See Using the Posterize command.)

Using Layers > Using adjustment layers and fill layers > Creating adjustment layers or fill layers