Design Process Photoshop workshop - Masks, overlays, tints and constructive crop

A Colour overlay - apply adjustment layer - Solid colour 

- Chose color

- Change opacity of coloured layer

Constructive adjustment/ posterise

Destructive to crop a image as this is a permanent change and can't adjust later

Specify size of image in properties bar and move image into document.

Adjusting brightness/contrast from drop down menu is destructive as cannot undo. Instead specify which areas want to alter using adjustment layers ie In layers panel chose image adjustment layer, can use mask layers to select an area.  I this example I posterised only certain parts of the image.

Original

Colour overlay with darken

Original

Desaturate using masks

To create a layer adjustment mask

Select adjustment layer - hue and saturation

use a selection tool such as a magic wand or quick selection tool to chose area for adjustment.

When area chosen, ensure layer and mask are selected

Edit, fill, black (Can also select inverse of this )

Adjust hue and saturation as appropriate  

                              
                                                                            Original

Creating overlay and mask

original

Masks, tints and layers

Can make the whole image greyscale by desaturating

Create an adjustment layer

Hue & Saturation

Mask area you don't want black and white (here used rectangle)

Click on mask Edit, fill black

Back to actual layer desaturate.

To take away from mask fill with white

When creating files for first time always think about what the output will be ie CMYK for print or RGB for screen. So for example if a CMYK file is to go on your blog convert to RGB.