Session 5 Exercise 1
The Background layer is the bottommost image in
the Layers palette — and the only layer when you
first open a new photograph. You can duplicate the
Background layer and change the blending mode to
change the look or simply work on the duplicated
layer without altering the original.
Although it does increase the file size, working on a
duplicated layer works well for simple changes and
can be used as a safety step in various workflows.
With a duplicate Background layer, you can quickly
compare your modified image with the original by
clicking the Visibility icon, the leftmost box next to
the layer thumbnail in the Layers palette, to hide the
duplicated layer and view only the original
Background layer. Then you can click the Visibility
icon on again to see the changes you made.
Photoshop CS3 includes many different types of
layers. You can add layers above the Background
layer for various effects. You can convert this layer
and move it in the Layers palette. Layers are the key
to nondestructive image editing — working on your
images without damaging existing pixels.
Part 1
1 Open an overexposed image in
Photoshop. Find this on Moodle. Overexposed2
2 In the Layers palette, click and
drag the Background layer
thumbnail over the New Layer
button and release the mouse
button.
Photoshop places a duplicated
Background layer above the
original.
3 Double-click the Background
copy’s name in the Layers palette
to highlight it.
4 Type a different name for the
copy.
5 Click here and change the blend
mode to Multiply. Try some of the other modes.
Part 2
1 Click Layer.
2 Click New Adjustment Layer.
3 Click to select the adjustment that
you want to make — for example,
Levels.
The New Layer dialog box appears.
4 Type a name for the adjustment
layer.
5 Click OK.
The dialog box for the type of
adjustment layer you selected
appears.
Take the adjustment photograph from Moodle and improve this.
Part 3
Take a look at Rescue. Can you recover the photograph?
Part 4
What can you do with the Dull Photograph to imporove it?
