Brushing in adjustments on Layers

When a simple localized adjustment is required, you can brush in the effect directly. This technique is particularly useful, for example, when adding sharpening or clarity, or when you are making some simple exposure adjustments. More complex adjustments such as "dodging and burning" can also be performed this way. However, when applying positive and negative exposure adjustments, a layer for each is required.

1. Select the brush from the following:

• Shortcut Draw Mask (B).
  
  
• Mask Cursor group in the Cursor toolbar. Press and hold active cursor to display the menu and select Draw Mask icon.
  
  
  
  
• In the foot bar in the Layers tool, click on the Draw Mask icon.
  
  

2. Modify the brush parameters as required.

3. To see the effect of the adjustment on-screen when brushing, in the Layers tool’s foot bar,  click on the Mask Visibility Settings icon and hold it to display the menu. Then select Never Display Mask from the menu.

4. Before brushing, select an adjustment tool and set the parameter slider to a particular value. For example, add a +0.6 EV exposure adjustment.

5. Brush in the local adjustment as required. The image is updated in the Viewer with the applied adjustment.

6. To remove any unwanted areas of the mask, select Erase Mask either from the Layers tool panel or from the Cursor toolbar from the menu. Modify the Brush Settings as necessary and carefully brush away parts of the mask to tidy up.

7. For a quick ‘before and after’ view of the applied adjustment, toggle the orange check-mark adjacent to the relevant Layer in the Layers tool.