Learn All About Adjustment Layers in Photoshop

If you are new to Photoshop, you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the functionality and wondering what you should focus on learning first. Adjustment layers are one of the most fundamental and flexible tools you will find in the program, and they are tremendously useful for almost any photographer. This helpful video will help you become proficient with them.

Coming to you from Aaron Nace with Phlearn, this excellent video will show you everything you need to know about adjustment layers in Photoshop. Adjustment layers are absolutely crucial in any photographer's post-processing workflow, particularly because they enable you to edit nondestructively. Nondestructive editing is so important because it allows you to make edits to a photo without changing or losing the original image data, thus allowing you to revert any edits you make or change them later on without degrading the quality or losing your photo. Photoshop has many adjustment layers ranging from tonality adjustments to more esoteric options, and used in tandem with things like blending modes and masking, you can accomplish a huge range of edits, both practical and creative. Check out the video above for the full rundown (and be sure to go practice on an image)! 

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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3 Comments

Aaron is a very good instructor. Pretty much my go to guy for any PS questions.

yeah I love his way of teaching. seems like a great person.

I wonder why he pronounces his company's name "flern". I always thought it should be pronounced "pee aich learn".

The longer way of saying things - the way that takes a bit more time and effort - is normally the way that sounds best. I do not like "quick and easy".