[PF FT] Switching Adjustment Layers

mattyboy777 · VIP

Adjustment layers are a flexible way to add non-destructive edits to an image. For example take a photo with which you want to amend the brightness, and add some contrast while you're there. It looks like a fairly routine edit so you decide to go with a Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer. Why make anything more complicated they it needs to be!

So you add the Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer and proceed to build yourself a mask in order to stay focused on the areas of the image that need attention (see figure 1 below). The trouble is, once you start tweaking those brightness and contrast sliders you realise you underestimated the degree of control you'd need.

So, how do you go about swapping that Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer for say, a Curves one, and keeping that mask in play. Well you could create another adjustment layer, this time Curves, drag the mask into its clutches, and then delete the original - but there's a quicker, simpler way.

Make sure the original adjustment layer is active, and then go to the Layer menu, select Change Layer Content, and then chose the adjustment layer of your choice (See menu below). The edits from the original adjustment layer get reset, and your new one is applied to the already created mask. Now change the name of the layer so you don't get confused later on, and you're done! (See figure 2 below)

I guarantee you this is a killer tip if you regularly work with adjustments layers and/or masks, and will be a handy addition to your Photoshop bag of tricks even if you don't!

Hope you find this useful... someday!

mattyboy777 · VIP

Hey all,

Just wanted to post an update in case those of you using CS4 are trying to follow this tip. Unfortunately, the 'Change Layer Content' option has been removed from CS4 which is a bit of a shame, but it's still available in previous versions of Photoshop.

I haven't really used CS4 all that much yet, so if there's something I'm not aware of, or a workaround, feel free to post back.

albellover · Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 1:49 am Post subject:

Thanks for the tut, I couldn't find out how to do that lol.

Photoshop Warrior · Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2011 11:33 am Post subject:

Thanks, it worked!!!