Layers - Adobe Photoshop Elements 11 for Photographers - page 286

Individual image layers can be manipulated independently of other layers in the stack.
Adjustment layers
Adobe added adjustment layers to El-
ements as a way for users to change
the look of images whilst retaining
the integrity of the image file.
Familiar image-change features,
such as Levels and Hue/Saturation, are available as adjustment layers and, depending on
where they are placed in the layer stack, will alter either part, or all, of the image.
Adjusting your images using these types of layers is a good way of ensuring that the basic
picture is not changed in any way. The other advantage is that the settings in the adjust-
ment layers can be edited and changed at a later date, even after the file has been saved. Us-
ers can access the original settings used to make the alteration by double-clicking the dialog
icon on the left-hand side of the adjustment layer.
Adjustment layers alter the look of all layers that are positioned beneath them in the stack, unless they are
grouped with the layer beneath by holding the Alt key down and clicking the dividing line between each lay-
er in the Layers palette.