I wanted to cover a question I get often when people see me edit in Photoshop. It has to do with Layers and the idea that we’ve been taught that we always need to duplicate a layer as soon as we start working in Photoshop. Hopefully this helps clear things up.
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I love teaching and photography... In that order. I feel that enjoying photography, and photo editing can get WAY too complicated. So my personal mission (and favorite thing to do), is to create education that simplifies the process of taking great photos, and how to edit them to get the results you’ve always wanted.
great tips Matt and new stuff for me too
About layers and size, I noticed something quite strange:
– I duplicate a layer in order to sharpen it
– I save the file (PSD is smaller than TIF) … there is the disproportionate extra size of the layer (every layer seems to need a lot of administrative data …)
– I want to remove parts that needed no sharpening [eraser] with the idea of saving some file size
… If I save this file (with a 30, maybe 50 % empty layer) – it is actually BIGGER than it was before the erasing. Even the file with the “fully filled” layer with a mask added is smaller than the one with the partially erased layer …
If partially filled layers are “bigger” than intact layers: Is there a limit to this paradoxical behaviour ? 30 % ?? What exactly does a blank layer with only a few items on it (3-5 %) ?
As PS has become more sophisticated at distraction removal, I now use it on more images than in the past, and usually consider the benefits worth the increased filesize. However, I’d still cringe at the final filesize, and had already begun skipping that CTRL+J. Now, with your video, I have both “permission” to skip (😄), plus the great tip about doing removal on a blank layer. Thanks!
Art of Masking “on sale?” I don’t see that on the website. Is there a magic handshake?
I found the secret handshake. It’s in the checkout page.
That was amazing. I’ve always used Command J, so I’ve just learned so much! Thank you!
Sharon
Another great tip, Matt!
What about smart objects? Suppose I have a raw file as a smart object. Isn’t that a new layer
Hi. Yes it is a layer. I don’t use smart objects but if you do, you should have a very specific reason for doing it, in which case my video on automatically pressing Cmd/Ctrl J to duplicate your layers would not be for you. Thanks.
Always something that can be used whether forgotten or new information. I enjoy all of them. Thanks
Looking forward to more great posts in the future
I liked what you showed us. But I have a question. When doing something as simple as you showed us, which didn’t take a lot of time to complete, could we flatten the image before saving it to save more space if we are pretty sure we got it right? In addition, if you brought it over from Lightroom, the original image is still there if you need to try again or create a different variation.
Hi Jim. You could flatten or merge. You’d lose the layers in case you wanted to undo or adjust something but if that isn’t important to you there’s nothing wrong with flattening.
Thank you. I will have to consider my “layering” in future Photoshop edits.
Question: what about pros/cons on flattening or merging files before sending back to Lightroom?
Hi Bob. You could flatten or merge. You’d lose the layers in case you wanted to undo or adjust something but if that isn’t important to you there’s nothing wrong with flattening.
Hey MattK
Shouldn’t feel awkward…I’ve purchased about everything you’ve produced and you have never disappointed me!
hard to follow, not sure where you are getting replace sky from is it photoshop stock, or do you have a folder somewhere, This is 2nd nature for you but not for everyone, a clearer step by step process would be easier to understand.
Hi. This was not a sky replacement tutorial, and that was simply an example. If you need help on Sky Replacements specifically, I’ve googled “How to do Sky Replacement in Photoshop” for you so this should help: https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+do+sky+replacement+in+photoshop&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS980US980&oq=how+to+do+sky+replace&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBwgAEAAYgAQyBwgAEAAYgAQyBwgBEAAYgAQyBwgCEAAYgAQyBggDEEUYOTIHCAQQABiABDIICAUQABgWGB4yCAgGEAAYFhgeMggIBxAAGBYYHjIICAgQABgWGB4yCAgJEAAYFhge0gEINzQyM2owajeoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Thanks.
good practice for Photoshop layers – don’t auto Ctl J… this adds storage which isn’t cheap .
I needed that info because I am one that is always doing command J! Thank you!
Good job, as always.
What you didn’t discuss is simply flattening the file when you are happy with it, to save disk space, knowing that you always have the original raw file should you ever want to go back and edit with newer, better, tools.
Also, that original raw is available if you are too late to revert when you realize you have messed up the background layer.
I should mention that it never occurred to me to do removal on a blank layer. That will certainly become a part of my workflow.
Thanks!
Hey Matt, this is great info, as usual 🙂 Do you have a tutorial about smart objects? I haven’t figured out when to use them.
Thanks, Leslie
Hi Leslie. I don’t. They aren’t something I use or recommend most photographers should use. Thanks.
Speaking of LRc PS interactions, I got stung by a bug that Adobe is fixing:
When editing a .TIFF or .PSD image in LRc, having gotten it from PS. Assume you want to experiment with a PS tool but don’t want to update the current image. A reasonable approach is to make a virtual copy and then edit a copy of that copy with Lightroom changes. Cool. Now you fiddle around in PS doing whatever and save it back to LRc. Bad idea. You’ve just updated the *original* .TIFF or .PSD file.
The workaround: make certain that PS isn’t still hanging on to the file handle of the image it previously sent back to LRc.
For me, I lost several hours’ work going from the raw file to the first edited .TIFF file. Grr.