Adjustment Layers in Photoshop - 10 Reasons Why You Need to Use Them

Adjustment layers (AL) give you control in Photoshop. Without them, you may be destroying pixels and working destructively on your images.

Here are 10 Reasons You Need to Use Adjustment Layers in Photoshop

1. Duplicating the background doubles file size. Using an adjustment layer does not. This makes for smaller files and uses less computer memory.

2. When you duplicate the background layer, you create pixels that can cover other layers. When you use an adjustment layer, it works like adding a piece of glass. Adjustment layers play well with other layers as they are transparent. They do not hide layers underneath.

3. Once you edit a duplicate layer your changes are permanent. Sure you can adjust opacity or add a mask. But you cannot reopen and adjust the actual adjustment (such as curves, hue/saturation, etc). You can with an AL.

4. They come with built in masks. This saves you a few extra clicks.

5. You can make presets for your favorite ALs. You can use these on image after image.

6. Adobe thought they were so important, they dedicated their own panel to them in CS4.

7. You can make Solid Color, Gradient, and Pattern Layers as adjustments.

8. You can adjust Brightness/Contrast, Levels, Curves, Exposure, Vibrance, Hue/Saturation, Color Balance, Black & Whites, Photo Filters, and Channel Mixers with these special layers.

9. You can do an Invert, Posterize, Threshold, Gradient Map and even selective color as an adjustment layer.

10. Many Photoshop actions are built with ALs and built in masks.

So what is stopping you?

* There are times when you need pixel information for retouching and extracting. At this time you may need to use a duplicate layer. My rule is only duplicate a layer when you absolutely have to.

This article was written by Jodi Friedman of MCP Actions. MCP Actions offers original Photoshop Actions and Workshops to customers internationally, which enable photographers, at the click of a button, to enhance and enrich their photos in a fast and efficient way. Check out our website at: http://www.mcpactions.com and our blog at: http://www.mcpactions.com/blog