Picture Processing Skills Tutorial: PS optimized picture 15 tips

Image processing does not require a large number of layers. You can even optimize the processing of a picture to 15 layers if you use the appropriate smart object. So now, let's take a look at the 10 techniques used to deal with pictures.

1. Convert Layers to smart objects

Smart objects as one of the most important non-destructive editing techniques, but not widely used, is a very strange thing. Smart objects also belong to layers, but more dexterous, unlike normal layers, the role of Smart objects includes:

Lossless transformations. Can be arbitrarily scaled, rotated, distorted many times, but does not reduce the quality of the original. For example, when you shrink a picture and decide to restore it to its original size, the process does not break the quality of the picture.

Lossless filters. When you use a filter for a smart object, a smart filter is generated. The smart filter allows you to reset it at any time. Most filters in Photoshop CS6 support smart objects.

Sync/link function. If you copy a smart object, when you update the contents of the Smart object, another layer that you copy will change accordingly. This feature is useful when you need to copy multiple layers of the same layer and keep a synchronized transformation.

How to convert a smart object: Right-click on the layer and select Convert to Smart object.

2. Use the file > Placement command to place the picture

Often, we use Photoshop to open a picture and then copy and paste it into another document. You don't have to do that anymore. Copying and pasting takes a lot of time and effort, and you can save time by using placement commands to place pictures in and automatically convert them into smart objects.

You can also use placement commands to place files such as raw, AI, and so on in your document and automatically convert to smart objects. For example, you can place a raw file and use Adobe Camera Raw to edit it at any time, simply by double-clicking on the smart object. You no longer have to convert the raw format image into a JPG format before processing.

3. Use Layer clipping masks

Many people should know the layer clipping mask, but not much. In many cases, we will first pull the map and then add a mask to the layer. If the layer you're editing is a smart object, it's not a good way to do it, and you're smart about the mask. If a layer mask is not enough, you will also combine the group and then add the mask again, as shown in the following image.

Do you need to use so many masks? Combine the layers into groups, and then add masks to the group.

Clipping masks are a better way to create a layer mask or to pull out an image. If you really can't use clipping masks, you can synthesize these layers into groups and then apply masks to groups. For Photoshop CS6, you can also create clipping masks for layer groups.

4. Keep the image effect simple

There are many ways to apply image effects, and most of them can be implemented using several adjustment layers. Each of us adds another layer effect to one layer effect, and the layers are stacked up. However, you can try using fewer layers to achieve the same effect. Instead of piling up, you should understand the meaning of a series of layers when applying an image effect. Too complex image effect is not only very cumbersome, but also reduce the quality, and even make your work greatly discounted.

5. Using Smart Filters

One of the benefits of using smart objects is the application of smart filters. When you convert a layer into a smart object, you can use the smart filter. Smart filters are a major lossless way to edit using filters, and smart filters allow you to change the effect of the filter at any time.

6. Use deepen dodge on one layer

Deepening and dodge are very important techniques in image editing, and using this technique allows you to simplify a lot of unnecessary layers. You can also use deepen/dodge on a smart object, but use this method:

Create a new layer. Fills the layer with a 50% gray.

Set the blending mode of the layer to overlay (you can also experiment with soft light, strong light and other blending modes).

Then use the Burn/Dodge tool to draw on this gray layer to see what's happening ...

7. Non-destructive cutting

Non-destructive clipping is the simplest technique for nondestructive editing. When you use the cropping tool, uncheck "Remove cropped pixels" in the option bar. This command tells Photoshop to keep the pixels you cropped before you cut them in other forms or sizes later.

8. Organize layers using names and combinations of labels

Image processing can have a lot of layers. Be sure to keep your layers organized, as this will save you a lot of time and make your editing skills more efficient. Organize layers to have their own methods. For example, you can set up a group for the foreground, the middle, and the background. You can also set up groups in objects. There are a number of ways to use layer groups to choose the one that is most meaningful to you.

9. Ensure that the number of layers is minimized

If you make a PSD file with 100 layers, you might think it's worth showing off, because it means you've put a lot of effort into this job. But maybe it's just that you're less efficient. Using the lossless editing techniques provided by Photoshop CS6 (or above), you don't have to use so many layers anymore. Use smart objects, smart filters, clipping masks, and so on to keep your number of layers to a minimum and find the right way to do it.

10. End your bad habits. Using lossless editing techniques

All of these techniques are useless to you if you have been accustomed to hasty and messy work. Changing the bad habits of the long term is the hardest thing for a designer--because you feel like the previous approach has worked well in the workplace, why use the latest lossless editing techniques?

Non-destructive editing may make you feel like you're going to have more work time, as I did when I first started contacting. But after using it a few times, I found these tips to make my job easier and quicker. Once you are skilled, you will fall in love with this way