Really,  Ctrl+i for ‘invert’.

Picked this tip up from the Digital Photography School.

Many of us use layer masks when editing a photo in Photoshop to allow us to mask out parts of our layers. For example, if I want to add a color filter layer or a texture layer and I don’t want the layer to  affect the entire image I start using my ‘black brush’ to ‘undo’ the entire layer then I switch to the ‘white brush’ to brush in the effect that I want.  This is double step editing and I generally like to do things in one step.  (I am always on a very tight time schedule.)

“If you want the layer to only affect a small portion of your photo, you have to erase/mask out everything except that little area. In reality, this only takes a second but that’s a long time in the editing world where everything is created to make your job super fast and easy. So instead of wasting a whole second, I just click the layer mask and hit Ctrl+i for ‘invert’. This turns your layer inside out so instead of spending time masking bits out, you can now use a black or white brush to mask portions in.”

That’s it!  Simple.  When I learn little shortcuts like this after a full day of editing a portrait session I just bow my head to the Photoshop Gods.

See you tonight for our Long Island Photo Gallery field trip to chilly Reckson Plaza in Uniondale.

~ Joanne Henig

Topaz Adjust is a Photoshop filter plugin that allows you to create endless possibilities for your images with, very often, just one or two clicks.  The differences that the filter displays in the images are dramatic, in most cases.  Topaz Adjust, for me, is the quickest and easiest way to take a good photo and turn it into something stunning.

Topaz Adjust’s included Preset Preview allows a user to click through a variety of different looks for an image.  Once you’ve chosen a preset that suits your image you can further fine tune the filter by using a series of sliders that control exposure, detail, color and noise.  You can even create and save your own Preset to add to the software for future use.

Yesterday, Topaz Adjust turned out its Version 4.  Just in time for me, because I was getting a little bored with the previous version.  I immediately downloaded my FREE upgrade (available to all previous Topaz Adjust owners).  I then went through a bunch of digital images I took over last summer and grabbed a couple of photos that I thought were good, but not good enough to be “gallery worthy”.

Here are my before and after results.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this little bit of information regarding Topaz Adjust v.4.  Topaz offers many other filter add ons for Photoshop.  Any of their filters can be downloaded for trial periods before purchase.  The filters cost around $40 – $60, depending on the filter.  They also offer all of their filters in one bundle for around $180.00.

For a limited time, use the coupon code NEWADJUST for a 20% discount on Topaz Adjust or the Photoshop bundle. Expires 3/15/2010, so act now!

Enjoy!

~ Joanne

It’s really not my style to do much adjustment work with my images in Photoshop. I prefer to get it right in the camera the first time.

But recently I had some time to play around with a flat light image I took of the Robert Moses Bridge. The image was ready for the trash bin.

But, with a little help from Photoshop and my new Topaz Filter, I’ve created a real Long Island Photo Gallery worthy or even canvas ready piece of digital art.

See for yourself …