Photoshop Image Adjustments vs Adjustment Layers

Still using Photoshop's image adjustments and damaging your photos? Here's why adjustment layers are a better, more flexible and non-destructive way to edit your images.
Photoshop includes lots of great image adjustments to improve the tone and color of our photos. But they all make permanent and destructive edits. Even if we apply an image adjustment to a copy of the image, there is still no way to edit the adjustment after we apply it. So in this video, I show you how to keep your edits flexible and non-destructive by switching from image adjustments to Photoshop's adjustment layers. I'm using Photoshop 2023 but this applies to any recent version.
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Written tutorial and PDF: bit.ly/3Y76j74
Get Photoshop 2023: prf.hn/l/dlXjD2w
Image used in this video: prf.hn/l/QxRyGX2
Video chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:36 Where to find the image adjustments
01:22 The problem with image adjustments
02:43 Applying image adjustments non-destructively
04:33 Still can't edit the adjustment
05:30 Image adjustments and file size
07:03 Where to find the adjustment layers
08:49 Adjustment layer basics
10:00 Editing an adjustment layer
10:17 Switching between the adjustment and layer mask
10:50 Making selective adjustments with the layer mask
12:28 Adding multiple adjustment layers
13:23 Adjustment layers and file size
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#photoshoptutorial #photoshopediting #photoshop

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

Hi everyone, Steve here. Photoshop includes lots of great image adjustments to improve the tone and color of our photos. But they all make permanent and destructive edits. Even if we apply an image adjustment to a copy of the image, there is still no way to edit the adjustment after we apply it. So in this video, I show you how to keep your edits flexible and non-destructive by switching from using image adjustments to Photoshop's adjustment layers. I hope this video is helpful, and as always, thank you so much for watching!

[@TheJomadi]

excellent explanation ❤👍👍👍

[@SenorGancho]

thanks so much Steve. I really appreciated your teaching style. No assumptions and blasting from one selection to another, just thoughtful explanations including the side issues. Case in point, the simple but obvious way to change views in the property panel between the 'layer' and the 'adjustment'. Well done! Bonus tip on that little arrow on the bottom. I had never even looked at that whereas now I can quickly get key info. Woo hoo!

[@ahmedsuleiman1130]

You finished the conviction of using "New adjustment layer" in lieu of "Image adjustment" for me.
I even thought you'll make use of smart object 😲, but you presented to us another shocker 🤣 which is the best.
Thanks for the succinct and unmatchable tutorial and conviction.
You are the best always always and forever, boss ❤️👍.

[@JulesMoyaert_photo]

Thank you! Subscribed! (Colorado).

[@stevejarvis186]

Thanks for this video Steve, I`m really loving your teaching style on PS now that I`m watching more and more of your stuff, you cover all of the subject in a very through but concise manner. Cheers

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

Thanks Steve! Great to hear the videos are helpful.

[@shrs.3448]

Very well and clearly illustrated with all your points. Well done.
And I learned a lot.
I turned down the play speed a tad so as to follow it easier for me to follow.
Thank you so much.

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

Great to hear it was helpful. Thank you for watching!

[@armandjany]

Thanks for sharing

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

I hope it was helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@phillipgregg3689]

Good vid Steve i always use adjustment layers but was not aware of the file size part [ interesting ]👍👍👍

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

Yeah it's not a huge performance issue as long as your computer has enough memory. But for all of their other benefits, there's really no reason not to use adjustment layers. Thanks for watching!

[@eazymoney5638]

your explanation is so cool 👍👍👍

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

Thanks! I hope it was helpful.

[@manipmani-vs9hq]

Well done

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

Thanks! Hope it helped.

[@williamshakespeare9815]

Is there a way to remove one layer without affecting the other layers? For eg if I wanted to remove one layer but I want to keep the other layers that are on top of that layer, cqn this be done?

[@MrPedalpaddle]

One more segment showing how to finally apply the layers (merge down?) would have been helpful. But, an excellent, clear, well paced video.

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

There is no need to merge adjustment layers. You can save the result as a JPEG (or other file type), and you can save the document as a Photoshop .PSD file so you can reopen it later and still have access to your adjustment layers.

[@agentprudent]

Hi Steve, please what if you convert your image to a smart object and use the image adjustments...?

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

That's actually my next video. :)

[@JulesMoyaert_photo]

🙏👍

[@Mikemenn]

Awesome. Will you continue with more non destructive editing options?

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

Yes, more on the way.

[@Mikemenn]

@@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel Awesome. Could you make a short list here you're working on? I'm anxious. :)

[@TheJomadi]

excellent explanation ❤👍👍

[@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel]

Thanks! I hope it was helpful.

[@TheJomadi]

@@PhotoshopEssentialsChannel even though I am an experienced user, I learned things