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Photoshop Tips
Using Curves Adjustment Layers with Layer Masks in Photoshop
By Wendy Crumpler and Barry Haynes
Dateline: August 31, 2005
Version: Photoshop CS
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You can accomplish almost anything with an adjustment layer and a layer mask, and the adjustment
layer we use most is Curves. Using layer masks gives you flexibility for tweaking photos because you can change the adjustment, the mask, or the opacity of the adjustment layer itself. Accordingly, we've provided three tips on using Curves adjustment layers with layer masks. |
 
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Brighten a Portrait
A simple Curves adjustment can
brighten a face quickly. In this image
the eyes are a bit dull, there are some
shadows under the eyes, and the teeth
could be whiter.
- Add a Curves adjustment layer and
move the midpoint of the curve up.
Make sure you only look at the areas
you want to change as you adjust.
- On the adjustment layer, press D to
access the default colors.
- Press Command-I (Invert) to fill the
adjustment layer mask with black.
- Press B for the Brush tool, then choose
a soft brush with 100% Opacity and
7% Flow. Paint the mask with white
in the areas you want to brighten. We
used the Airbrush here.
With a single curve, we cured a multitude
of problems. This would not be
appropriate for fine portraiture, but
for a quick fix, it works well.
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Open the Shadows
The dummy is exposed correctly, but
the man’s face is in the shadow of his
hat. While this could be a prospect
for the Shadow/Highlight feature, you have more
control over exactly what you lighten
with a curve and a mask.
- Add a Curves adjustment layer and
while the curve is still onscreen, click
and drag your mouse over the shadow
areas in the image to determine where
those values fall on the curve.
- Click on the curve in the middle of the
range to place a point. Now pull the
curve up to bring those values in line
with other skin tones in the picture.
- Follow steps 2-4 in the first tip. Paint
the adjustment layer mask with white
where you need to open up shadows.
Notice the steep curve we built to
pull detail from the face and increase
brightness and contrast. This curve
would be inappropriate to use on the
overall picture, but a mask filled with
black lets you brush only the areas
you need. I painted part of the hat,
glasses, and face, but skipped face
areas not in the shadows.
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Warm a Selection
In this tulip field, we wanted to warm
the leaves and protect the opened
flower. You could make several Hue/
Saturation adjustments, but in this
case, one curve will do. Making the
selection first saves you from having
to paint the entire mask.
- Make a loose selection with the Lasso
tool. Choose Select > Inverse.
- Add a Curves adjustment layer and
use the pull-down menu to switch to
the Blue channel. Pull the curve down
to add yellow.
- Use a soft-edge brush to finesse your
mask if need be. Paint with white where
you want the adjustment, black where
you want the original colors.
In this image, adding yellow to the
leaves and the closed tulips warmed
the colors, making the leaves greener
and the flower tips redder.
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Wendy Crumpler and Barry Haynes are
the authors of Photoshop CS Artistry,
the seventh edition of their highly
acclaimed book. They teach workshops
on Photoshop and Painter in
their Oregon studio.
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