Just starting in PS

[Hawk Teflon]

I'm playing around with PS, trying to learn it so I can have that as something i can use. I've edited a few photos together, but they obviously don't look right. They need color correction. I tried the curves & Hue and Saturation, but it affects every layer. I need to color correct one layer. I know how to do this in Final cut and After Effects, but not PS. I couldn't find the right google phase to pull anything up.

 

[Matt Grunau]

Hey Hawk

First, kudos for using Adjustment layers rather than the destructive Image>Adjustments> nonsense.

To affect only the layer you want, you have a couple of options. Like FCP you can use a Mask on the Adjustment layer (called Layer Masks in PS), or, you can do what is called a "Clipping Mask". Create your Adjustment Layer and tweak it to you liking. Then hold down Alt and in the Layer's pallet, move your cursor between the Adjustment Layer and the layer you want to affect, which needs to be directly below it. You will see the cursor change, and while still holding Alt, click. The Adjustment layer will now only affect that layer below it, and that will be represented by a small arrow next to the thumbnail. It will look like this:

If my server was up, I would put an example of exactly where to click and what the cursor will look like, but it aint. In the meantime, go here:

http://www.photoshopessentials.com/photoshop-text/text-effects/images-in-text/page-4.php

and here:

http://www.lersus.de/res/modules/enu/photoshop/1/content/content2.html

and read up.

 

[Hawk Teflon]

Thank you! I was trying to figure out everything to do to get that arrow, but it didn't seem to be working. Once I added the layer, I just right clicked and selected "create clipping layer" ... I'm not sure if that's what you meant or not, but that's what worked. I would never have selected that. That doesn't sound like something that would do that. Thanks a lot!

I really need to take a PS class.

 

[Matt Grunau]

If that make a Clipping Mask, there ya go! That's not the way I do it, but I kinda stumbled on my method. Either way, Clipping mask should do what you are wanting.