The Art of Photoshop Layers

Course details

Layers are the beating heart of any Photoshop composition. Layers let you manipulate your images in ways big and small, simple and fantastic. Layers allow you to keep the various elements of a composition separate, so that you can edit them independently. You can use layers to move elements, to add text or graphic shapes, or to combine images with masking, opacity, and blending effects.

Starting with an overview of layer concepts and conventions, this course examines the differing components of Photoshop layers: adjustment layers, layer masks, smart objects, and blend modes. Instructor Nigel French demonstrates the power, flexibility, and phenomenal range of Photoshop layers and layer-related features and how they can be used for both the everyday and the extraordinary to allow non-destructive editing with limitless possibilities.

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Explore the art of Photoshop layers

1. An Overview - Thinking in Layers

02 - Thinking in layers, part 1
03 - Thinking in layers, part 2
04 - Thinking in layers, part 3
05 - Thinking in layers, part 4

2. Working with Photoshop Layer Blend Modes

06 - Multiply and Screen - Understand the darkening and lightening blend modes
07 - Multiply - Create a simple double exposure effect
08 - Screen - Create a lens flare
09 - Overlay - Dodge and burn
10 - Soft Light - Orton effect
11 - Luminosity - Control color
12 - Overlay - Add texture
13 - Composite with Linear Burn, Divide, and Vivid Light
14 - Hand tinting - Color blend mode vs. neural filter
15 - Overlay - Add grain
16 - Hard Light and Screen - Create an atmospheric book cover
17 - Overlay and Threshold - Create a limited color poster
18 - Using Filter Blend modes
19 - Soft Light - Pep Ventosa effect

3. Masking Layers in Photoshop

20 - Blending images with a gradient layer mask
21 - Create a layer sandwich
22 - Texture blending
23 - Combining filter masks and layer masks
24 - Create a line drawing using a layer mask and smart filter
25 - Apply texture with a layer mask
26 - Combining a layer mask with the Puppet Warp filter
27 - Intertwining with layer masks and Liquify
28 - Create a simple clipping mask
29 - Create a clipping mask grid
30 - Exploring the potential of clipping masks
31 - Clipping masks and linked layers
32 - Mask one thing with another
33 - Create a long exposure effect
34 - Create a painterly landscape
35 - Create a knockout effect
36 - Retouching with layer mask
37 - Blending exposures with layer masks

4. Working with Photoshop Adjustment Layers

38 - Combining levels and layer masks
39 - Adjusting color and tone
40 - Shifting colors with Hue Saturation
41 - Combining color and black and white
42 - Using Shadows Highlights as a filter
43 - Create a monotone
44 - Create a cyanotype with legacy gradients
45 - Using the Channel Mixer on an infrared image
46 - Create a stylized portrait with Threshold
47 - Create a vintage travel poster using Posterize
48 - Create a screenprint look using Color Fill layers

Conclusion

49 - Next steps