CHAPTER 10
168
Applying Filters, Effects, and Layer Styles
Tips for applying filters
Tr y the following techniques to create special
visual effects with filters.
Feather the filter edges If you’re applying a filter
to a selected area, you can soften the edges of the
filter effect by feathering the selection before you
apply the filter. See “About selections” on page 113
for more information on defining a feathered
edge.
Apply filters to multiple layers Apply filters to
individual layers or to several layers in succession
to build up an effect. You can choose different
blending modes in the Layers palette to blend the
effect. (See “Specifying layer blending modes” on
page 100.) For a filter to affect a layer, the layer
must be visible and must contain pixels.
Create textures and backgrounds By applying
filters to solid-color or grayscale images, you can
generate a variety of backgrounds and textures.
You can then blur these textures if desired.
Although some filters (for example, the Glass
filter) have little or no visible effect when applied
to solid colors, others produce interesting effects.
For such colors, you can use Add Noise, Chalk &
Charcoal, Clouds, Conté Crayon, Difference
Clouds, Glass, Graphic Pen, Halftone Pattern,
Mezzotint, Note Paper, Pointillize, Reticulation,
Rough Pastels, Sponge, or Underpainting. You can
also use any of the filters in the Texture submenu.
Improve image quality and consistency You can
disguise faults, alter or enhance images, or make a
series of images look similar by applying the same
filter to each.
Using effects
The Effects palette lets you quickly create different
looks for your images.
If an effect name is followed by (Selection),
(Layer), or (Type), the effect can only be applied to
a selected portion of your image, to a selected
layer, or to a type layer, respectively. Some effects
are automatically applied to a copy of the selected
layer, while other effects can only be applied to a
flattened image. You cannot preview layer effects
or change options for the effects.
Many of the choices in the Effects palette are
modified versions of filters—giving you a
default value of a filter. See “Choosing a filter” on
page 172 to decide whether to use an Effect or a
Filter.
To apply an effect:
1 Do one of the following:
• To a pply an effect to an entire layer, deselect any
selected areas in the image, and then select the
layer in the Layers palette.
• To apply an effect to a portion of a layer, use any
selection tool to select the area.
• To apply a Text effect, use the text tool to enter
the text you want.
2 Do one of the following in the Effects palette:
• Double-click an effect.
• Select an effect, and click Apply.
• Drag an effect to the image.
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