Local adjustments (redux)

Michael Sonshine

• 2. August 2015 12:51

Is there any limitation on which tools can be added to the Local Adjustment tab and work? That is, can any tool be added to the tab and be expected to work with the selection? And, for that matter, can any number of Local Adjustment tabs be created by adding a second (or third) tab, adding the local adjustment tools and then adding additional tools to that tab?

Or do only some tools work with local adjustments? And, if so, which ones?

This question came when I noticed that, although I added the Color Balance tool to the Local Adjustments tab, using it affects the entire image, not just the selected part. I assume that if this tool is not limited by Local Adjustments there may be others.

Thanks.

UPDATE:

I have done some experimentation and found that some tools can be added to the Local Adjustments tab successfully (meaning that they work with local adjustments) and some can be added, but not successfully (meaning they can be physically added, but are not limited to the selected area).

So far I have Sharpening, High Dynamic Range, the Color Editor, Clarity, Moire and Exposure added, all of which work. I have tried to add Color Balance, Curves and Levels and, while I could physically add them, they work on the entire image, not just the selected part of the image.

I can understand some of that. Levels and Curves probably need to apply to an entire image, but why does Color Balance not work in only the selected part of the image? And is there some central list as to what will and what will not work?

0

• 

  Franz J Wenzel

  • 2. August 2015 13:06

  I wondered about that same thing.
  I think the only tools that apply locally are the once you have in the default tab. Off and on I tried some of the others, and none of those work 'restricted'...

  0
• 

  Ian Wilson

  Moderator

  • 2. August 2015 13:23

  

  Only certain tools can be used as local adjustments. They are the ones that are on the local adjustments tab by default if you don't add or remove any. So for example you can use the HDR tools as a local adjustment (perhaps to recover the highlights in just one area of the image rather than overall) but you can't use a curve as a local adjustment.
  
  The full list is here.
  
  Ian

  0
• 

  Michael Sonshine

  • 2. August 2015 13:35

  [quote="Ian3" wrote:
  Only certain tools can be used as local adjustments. They are the ones that are on the local adjustments tab by default if you don't add or remove any. So for example you can use the HDR tools as a local adjustment (perhaps to recover the highlights in just one area of the image rather than overall) but you can't use a curve as a local adjustment.
  
  The full list is here.
  

  
  Thank you for the link.
  
  I am surprised that White Balance could be added. I had not even tried that because I assumed that white balance was something that had to be computed and applied to an entire image. I am also a bit surprised at Noise Reduction, although that could be helpful.

  0
• 

  Ian Wilson

  Moderator

  • 2. August 2015 13:45

  

  The white balance is a comparatively recent addition to what you can do locally. Very useful, I find when you have mixed lighting.
  
  Ian

  0
• 

  Paul Steunebrink

  • 4. August 2015 07:27

  As referenced in another post in this thread the tools that work with Local Adjustments is restricted. The default workspace, which you can select from the Window menu, will show you all tools that apply on that tool tab.
  
  Tools that work with adjustments layer, get the Adjust Selected Layer (ASL) toggle switched on automatically when installed on the Adjustments Layer tool tab. This is by default. This toggle differentiates the same tool on their regular tool tab.
  
  Compare for example the Exposure tool on both the Exposure tool tab and the Adjustments Layer tool tab. The ASL toggle is visible through a small brush symbol in the tool's header. It means it works with the selected layer or with the generic background layer.
  
  Tools that are not supported for working on adjustments layers always work on the background layer, even when another layer is selected.

  0

Post ist für Kommentare geschlossen.