Adjustment layer - question

[berniebernie]

Ungroup it to the layer it's attached to, and make sure the group folder blending mode is set to 'normal' and not 'transfer(?)'

unfortunately, there is no solution I know of to selectively apply adjustement layers (short of copying and pasting the said adjustement layers to each layer)

[Brocklesocks]

berniebernie is right about the Levels layer being grouped to the layer below it -- you can tell by the little down arrow.

To selectively apply adjustment layers, just paint everything in the mask black that you don't want the adjustment layer to apply to (working in selections helps -- Ctrl + click a layer you want the selection of). The mask area is the white rectangle you see on your Levels layer.

[alenah]

hi Phil, did you try to convert the entire Group into Smart object? this might solve your problem, I guess ..
while still editable (inside/within the Smart Object "container"), you´ll get just one single layer, to which you can easily apply your adjustment layer ..
well - I did not try this particular case, but I think this might work well .. (??)
a.

[MetalMetroid]

Thanks to all of you, great help!

In the end I used berniebernie's suggestion of separating the adjustment layer from the "Left Side" layer. Basically I wanted to be able to apply a Levels and Curves Adjustment to the "Hair" group.

For example with the "Hair" group I just clicked on the top layer titled "Left Side" and created my adjustment layer unattached from "Left Side". This applied the adjustment only to the "Hair" group, just what I wanted!

Thanks again. :)

[Dtox]

It seems to me that you have to specifically attach the adj layer to the layer or else it automatically applies to all layers in the image or group.
When I select the top layer in a group, and create an adjustment layer it automatically applies to every visible layer in the group.

So how did you manage to attach it to the top layer without specifically meaning to do so, and taking the extra steps to do it?

I can't seem to find how to even apply the adj layer to only the top layer in a group.

I think it might be useful in creating bumps, but I can't seem to end up with those results.

I apply the adj layer to the group itself and it applies to all layers in the group, I apply it to the top layer and it still has the same effect.
Even if I link the layers it still doesn't look like it does in the layers palette above.

I'm on a Mac using CS3, so maybe that's it.

[suztv]

Dtox - You can apply adjustment layers to just one layer by checking the check box"Use Previous Layer to Create Clipping Mask" when you create the adjustment layer.

If you want to apply it to all layers underneath then don't check that box. If you need to apply it to a group of layers - shift-ctrl-click all of the layers you want this done to before creating the adjustment layer and leave the check box unchecked. This creates a mask for the adjustment layer based on your selection (ctrl-click).

[Dtox]

OK, I got it.

So then, the only way this could happen by accident is if someone were to check the box not knowing what it does?

[suztv]

Pretty much - although there might be settings in Photoshop that you can mess with where it remembers the selection. IDK - Photoshop can sometimes be a little jumpy. It's best to make sure that the check box is selected or not based on your preference every time.

Also, if after creating the adjustment layer you want it to just apply to the layer below, hold down the alt key and then drag the layer in the layer pallet to the layer below until you see your mouse icon become two overlapping circles.

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