1.

Start Photoshop CS and use the file browser to open the Island girl image in your Photoshop samples folder.

Your Photoshop Screen should look like something like the sample above.

2.

In the Layers palette, click the New Adjustment Layer icon, and choose Curves from the adjustment menu that appears.

After you click on the curves menu item, the following control will appear.

Make sure that the item in the drop list labelled Channel is RGB, and that there is a mark in the checkbox labelled Preview. (When preview is selected, any changes you make to will be shown in the image.) In the Curves dialog box, you will see what looks like an x, y graph. The x axis (input) shows the brightness levels for the pixels in the original image. The Y axis will represent the brightness output after you make adjustments. Initially, there is a straight diagonal line, implying a linear relationship between the input and output values (the input values are at the same level as the output values).

To start, single click on the diagonal line to make three equidistant points. You will use these points as anchors to create your curve.

First, using your mouse, slide the lowest point along the vertical dotted line that it rests on, If you slide it upwards, the diagonal line will curve, and the shadows in the image will lighten.

Next, move the highest anchor point down on its vertical dotted line, to make the high light areas, (sky, water) deeper and richer.

Finally, adjust the center anchor point (mid tones) to improve the overall appearance to your liking.

At this point, if you click the OK button, the curve would be implemented as an adjustment layer over the underlying image.  However, since we are only practicing with adjustment layers, click Cancel instead. You should see the adjustment effects disappear from the image.

3.

For the next step, click the New Adjustment Layer icon in the layers palette, and choose Gradient from the menu. This will display the gradient fill control.

Accept the default gradient type, (from dark to light linear) and use your mouse to drag the line that extends over the radius of the circle labelled Angle. Drag the line around the circle until the gradient is darkest at the lower right, and lightest at the upper left. Experiment with other gradient settings. The gradient will only be applied as an adjustment layer if you click the OK button. Since we are practicing at this point, click Cancel instead.

4.

Next, display the Adjustment Layer Menu, and choose Posterize.

In the Posterize control box, increase and decrease the number in the Levels field. Make sure that preview is checked so you can see the results of the changes on the image. The higher the number in the levels field, the more detail and contrast will be in the picture.

5.

Set the levels value at 3 so there is very little colour, contrast, and detail in the image. Finally, click OK to implement the adjustment layer.

Next, set the foreground and background colours to the default black and white by clicking the tiny colour squares on the lower left of the foreground/background colour squares in the toolbox.

Select the paintbrush tool from the toolbox, specify a fairly large brush size in the options bar, and then paint over the image in the general vicinity of the girl.

Notice that the area you paint over with the black foreground colour will reveal the original image. If you switch colours, and use white as the foreground colour, you will paint the adjustment effect onto the image, rather than remove it. When you do this, you are taking advantage of the adjustment layer’s associated mask. This technique can be used in a similar way with any of the adjustment layers.

(This is a great way to apply light and shadow through the Levels or Curves adjustment layers. Once you configure the shadows, mid tones, and highlights, you can further refine them by painting them on or off as required to enhance the details of the image.)

6.

To remove the adjustment layer, right click on it in the layers palette, and select delete layer from the menu.

This will remove the adjustment layer and any effects it has on the image.

7.

Display the adjustment layer menu from the layers palette, and choose Photo Filter from the menu.

In the Photo filter Dialog box, expand the drop list labelled Filter by clicking on the small arrow. From the list of options, click on Sepia.

Next, drag the density slider to the right until you are pleased with the effect.

Click OK to create the adjustment layer.

8.

Here is the image with the sepia filter applied via an adjustment layer.

Next, click the New Adjustment Layer button and select Gradient from the menu items.

In the Gradient Fill dialog box, select Radial from the style drop list, and put a check mark in the reverse check box. (Have a look at what the image looks like without the reverse box checked.) The Gradient Fill box should look like this.

When you want to create the adjustment layer, click the OK button.

9.

Your image should now look like something like this.

Click File followed by Save As from the menu bar, and save the image as Practice9 in your practice folder. Save the image as PSD format (to preserve the layer information for later use).

10.

After you have saved the image, close (X) Photoshop CS.