Applying Styles and Presets to Layers

Capture One allows applying certain built-in and user-customizable Styles and Presets to Layers, thereby allowing you to apply groups of adjustments as a specific look or personalized style to selective areas of an image. Styles and Presets can be applied either from the Layers tool, after creating a layer, or directly from the Styles and Presets panel, where they can be applied to the background, the selected layer, or a new layer. Not only does this help to speed up your workflow, especially if you are working with multiple layers, but this new option for Styles and Presets also provides a streamlined workflow. Presets can also be applied to a layer from the tool’s Manage Preset menu.

Capture One enables you to apply a Style or Preset in different ways: to a gradient, to the entire image as an offset, or you can brush it in. Brushing is arguably the most versatile option. The application of a group of adjustments (i.e. a Built-in Style) or a customized group (i.e., a User Style) this way enables you to adopt the brush’s flow control option so you can build-up the effect gradually, in steps. You can even fade the amount applied on each layer retrospectively using the Master Opacity slider - there’s no more guesswork and no more painstaking reapplication of individual adjustments.

There are some restrictions in the way the Styles and Presets can be used, however. When working with the dedicated Styles and Presets panel, they can only be applied from there using the tool’s context menu (Ctrl/right-click). If you prefer to brush in adjustments, you can do so after creating a layer and brushing-in a small area first, allowing you to see the effect on the image as you brush over the rest.

Styles can not be stacked on the same layer (you must use a new layer for each, where the effects are additive). Where certain settings are not compatible (such as those relating to certain features including the crop, keystone correction tools, and the application of metadata), they are disabled. When certain settings are disabled, the Style or Preset may still be applied partially. A dialog will open to advise you.

When working with Styles and Presets on layers in Capture One, they are applied to the layer, which enables you to work with them in a number of ways. When you want to apply a Style or Preset to the whole image, for example, as a color grade to compare with another Style or a normalized adjustment on a layer or background, you should select a new filled layer and apply it to that.

When you want to apply the Style or Preset selectively, you can apply it to an empty layer, then brush the adjustments in or apply them to the gradient. When used this way, you can view the effect in the Viewer as you make the selection (remember to turn the mask off (M) or enable only show mask when drawing). If you are unsure of the Style to use, make a small selection first and scroll over the list to preview the effect.

More than one Preset can be applied to a layer and a Preset can be applied to a layer with a Style (i.e., they can be stacked). However, only one Style can be applied to a layer at a time, and those adjustments will be in addition to any already applied to the layer. If you want to apply a second Style, create another layer and repeat the steps outlined below. Note that Styles or Presets that include adjustments that cannot be applied will appear grayed-out in the list.

1. Select an image in the Browser.
   
   
2. Go to the Layers tool or Viewer’s toolbar and click on the New Layer button, the (+) icon, and select one of the following:
   
   
   • New Empty Adjustment Layer - Use this when you want to make a selection using the brush or gradient. A new empty adjustment layer is created. Ensure that the layer is selected from the list, if not already.
     
     
   • New Filled Adjustment Layer - Select this option to apply the Style or Preset to the whole image (e.g., when you want to apply a color grade to a layer or an offset using Levels or the Curve tool).
     
     
     
     
     
3. From the Layers tool’s title bar, select the Action menu, the (…) icon, or Ctrl/right-click on the Layer in the stack. The Action menu opens.
   
   
   
   
4. Select Apply Settings From -> User Styles / Built-in Styles / User Presets / Built-in Presets and choose the appropriate option. The effect will be applied to the New Filled Adjustment Layer in the image. If you selected a New Empty Adjustment Layer, start brushing or add a gradient. Make a small selection first to preview the effect of the Style.
   
   
   
   
5. If you want to apply a different Style or Preset, return to step 4 and select another one from the list. The image will be updated as you hover the cursor over the choices in the list. Click on the option in that list to apply the Style’s settings to the selection.

Like most other adjustments, the combination of settings from the Styles and Presets library in the Layers tool can be brushed in. The recommended workflow is to first create a new empty layer from within the Layers tool, then brush in a small selection. With a small selection in place, select the Style or Preset from within the Layers tool so that you can see the effect. Then continue with brushing in the selection. While it is useful to see the effect being applied using the brush, this technique may not be suitable for all images, particularly where edge selection is critical. If you have not used all the available layers, it is recommended to keep the layer dedicated to the chosen Style (or Preset) and free off other adjustments.

1. Select an image in the Browser.
   
   
2. Go to the Layers tool or Viewer’s toolbar, click on the Create New Adjustment Layer, the (+) icon, and select New Empty Adjustments Layer. A new Adjustment Layer is created. Ensure that the relevant layer is selected from the list.
   
   
   
   
   
3. From the foot bar in the Layers tool, select the brush cursor Draw Mask (B).
   
   
   
   
4. Select Always Display Mask from the menu. Note this option can be toggled on or off by using the shortcut M.
   
   
   
   
5. Modify the brush as required and brush-in a small selection on the image.
   
   
6. From the Layers tool’s title bar, select the Action menu, the (…) icon, or Ctrl/right-click on the Layer in the stack. The Action menu opens.
   
   
   
   
7. Select Apply Settings From -> User Styles / Built-in Styles / User Presets / Built-in Presets and choose the style or preset.
   
   
   
   
8. Return to the initial selection and continue to brush-in the effect. The image will be updated in the Viewer as you apply the selection.
   
   
9. If you want to apply a different Style or Preset, return to step 6 and select another one from the list. The image will be updated as you hover the cursor over the different choices in the list. Click on the option to apply the new settings to the selection.

You can apply Styles or Presets to layers in batches of images by either adding a new Style or Preset to a New Layer (e.g., a new filled layer to apply the effect to the whole image). If Capture One detects existing adjustments layers in the selected images, apply the Style or Preset to the topmost layer in the stack. The topmost option is particularly useful when you have created a masked layer from a color selected using the Color Editor. If a mask is detected on the topmost layer, Capture One will apply the adjustments to the mask. If a Style was used on that layer, it will be replaced with the new one.

1. Select all of the images in the Browser that you want to apply a Style or Preset on a layer to.
   
   
2. Ensure Edit All Selected Variants is enabled from the Edit menu or toolbar.
   
   
   
   
3. Go to the Layers tool, click on the New Layer button, the (+) icon, and select from the New Filled Adjustment Layer from the list. A new filled layer is created for the primary variant.
   
   
   
   
4. Ctrl/right-click on the layer bar in the primary variant or select the Action menu, the (…) icon, in the title bar, choose Apply Settings From -> User Styles / Built-in Styles / User Presets / Built-in Presets, and scroll over the list to preview the effect on the primary variant in the Viewer.
   
   
   
   
5. Select the Style or Preset from the menu, add a check-mark to the needed option. A dialog box opens asking if you would like to create a New Layer in each and apply the Style or Preset. If there are any Layers detected, apply it to the Topmost layer in the selected variants.
   
   
   
   
6. The Style will be applied to the new Layer in the primary variant and will be applied to the others in the batch according to your choice in step 5.
   
   

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