Using curves layers in PS

[pschlute]

From tips picked up on here I am using curve layers in Photoshop to dodge/burn by painting on the mask.

If I use more than one layer for a different part of the image do I simply create a new curves adjustment layer, invert the mask and paint on the mask. Then when I am ready simply Flatten Image ?

This seems to work

[DanK]

You can use additional curves for different parts of the image. There is no need to flatten the image to do this.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[pschlute]

You can use additional curves for different parts of the image. There is no need to flatten the image to do this.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Ah. What I meant was once I have finished all my D+B and any other edits I flatten the image prior to saving

[Manfred M]

Peter - some of my more complex edits can have 50 - 100 layers and virtually all of them are curves adjustment layers that I dodge and burn with.

I generally do not collapse layers.

[Geoff F]

Same with me. When saving as a Psd image (or another one which supports layers) I normally leave my layers intact so I can return to the image and make changes at a later date. Although occasionally when doing some other tasks I prefer to merge the layer and background part way through my editing work.

[DanK]

I rarely flatten them because I am never certain that I won’t want to change the edits.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[pschlute]

Interesting. Although I do have a few images where I have saved a psd file with layers intact, most of the time when happy with a "finished" work I flatten the layers and save the TIFF or PSD image before :

1.resizing
2. converting to profile (sRGB usually)
3. saving as a JPEG.

[Manfred M]

Interesting. Although I do have a few images where I have saved a psd file with layers intact, most of the time when happy with a "finished" work I flatten the layers and save the TIFF or PSD image before :

1.resizing
2. converting to profile (sRGB usually)
3. saving as a JPEG.

I look at a "finished work" as a step that is independent of output for the web or print, which is what I save. The operations that you mention here, plus output sharpening and final changes in brightness are done on a "scratch" copy of the image and that work gets thrown out as soon as the image is done.

[pschlute]

That does make a lot of sense Manfred.