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Author Topic: Lightening Effects Filter - Layers  (Read 5455 times)

Dinarius

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Lightening Effects Filter - Layers
« on: May 10, 2006, 05:33:14 am »

I want to use the Lighting Effects Filter (Filter/Render/Lighting Effects Filter) on an image, but I don't want to work directly on the image. I want to work on a layer.

How do I create a new layer to work on?

Please give me the breakdown stage by stage. I'm a beginner! ;-)

I'm using CS2 on a PC.

Many thanks.

D.
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francois

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Lightening Effects Filter - Layers
« Reply #1 on: May 10, 2006, 06:09:25 am »

The easiest way is to duplicate your image layer and work on this layer. Then, you can adjust opacity and use layer masks.

- To duplicate the image layer, select your layer in the layer palette (if you open your image, it's already selected), then in the menus  Layer>Duplicate Layer...
- You can also use the menu Layer>New>Layer from background..., in your case the result is equivalent.
- Your new layer will be selected and now you can use your filters!
« Last Edit: May 10, 2006, 06:15:45 am by francois »
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Francois

Chris_T

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Lightening Effects Filter - Layers
« Reply #2 on: May 10, 2006, 07:03:01 am »

Quote
The easiest way is to duplicate your image layer and work on this layer. Then, you can adjust opacity and use layer masks.
[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

This works fine if there is only a single layer to duplicate. If there are already multiple layers, and if you want to merge and duplicate all of them into a new layer to work on, see my post in the thread "sharpening using a layer" here:

[a href=\"http://luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=10775]http://luminous-landscape.com/forum/index....showtopic=10775[/url]
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Tim Gray

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Lightening Effects Filter - Layers
« Reply #3 on: May 10, 2006, 09:04:42 am »

I recommend http://www.radiantvista.com/news/ for an excellent collection of video tutorials - great way for a beginner to get up to speed.
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61Dynamic

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Lightening Effects Filter - Layers
« Reply #4 on: May 10, 2006, 10:49:47 am »

It's advisable to learn keyboard shortcuts as they'll make PS work much more tolerable in the long-term than just using the mouse.

And on that note, Ctrl+J duplicates a layer but if there are numerous layers, then select the top layer and type Ctrl+Alt+Shift+N to create a new blank layer (if you don't hold down the Alt key, you get a dialog letting you name it and select a blending mode) and then Ctrl+Shift+E to stamp all visible layers into the new layer.
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francois

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Lightening Effects Filter - Layers
« Reply #5 on: May 10, 2006, 11:01:02 am »

Quote
This works fine if there is only a single layer to duplicate. If there are already multiple layers, and if you want to merge and duplicate all of them into a new layer to work on, see my post in the thread "sharpening using a layer" here:

http://luminous-landscape.com/forum/index....showtopic=10775
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=64989\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Chris,
I assumed that Dinarius only had the background layer since he doesn't know how to create a new layer.    But you're right!
« Last Edit: May 10, 2006, 11:01:36 am by francois »
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Francois

Chris_T

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Lightening Effects Filter - Layers
« Reply #6 on: May 11, 2006, 08:56:13 am »

Quote
It's advisable to learn keyboard shortcuts as they'll make PS work much more tolerable in the long-term than just using the mouse.

And on that note, Ctrl+J duplicates a layer but if there are numerous layers, then select the top layer and type Ctrl+Alt+Shift+N to create a new blank layer (if you don't hold down the Alt key, you get a dialog letting you name it and select a blending mode) and then Ctrl+Shift+E to stamp all visible layers into the new layer.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=64997\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

You are absolutely right about shortcuts. I'll add that for frequent use, creating an action to merging the visible layers (or any other editing sequence) will make it even quicker. But that's for another thread...
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