How do you change the color adjustment layer in Photoshop?

To change the color adjustment layer in Photoshop, you can directly modify its settings through the Properties panel or by double-clicking the layer's icon.

Here's a breakdown of how to do it:

Methods for Changing Color Adjustment Layer Settings:

1. Using the Properties Panel:

   • Locate the Adjustments Panel: If it's not visible, go to Window > Adjustments.

   • Select the Adjustment Layer: Click on the specific color adjustment layer you want to modify in the Layers panel.

   • Modify Settings: The Properties panel will display the controls for that adjustment layer. For example, if you selected a "Hue/Saturation" layer, you'll see sliders for Hue, Saturation, and Lightness. Adjust the sliders or other controls to achieve the desired color changes.

   • Specific Adjustment Layer Types:

     • Levels or Curves: Adjust tonality by modifying shadows, midtones, and highlights.
     • Color Balance: Alter the color mix in shadows, midtones, and highlights.
     • Hue/Saturation: Change the hue, saturation, and lightness of specific colors or the entire image.
     • Black & White: Control how colors are converted to grayscale when creating a black and white image.

2. Double-Clicking the Layer Icon:

   • Locate the Adjustment Layer: In the Layers panel, find the color adjustment layer you wish to alter.
   • Double-Click: Double-click on the icon (the small symbol) to the left of the layer's name. This action will also open the Properties panel (as described above) where you can modify the layer's settings.

Editing Adjustment Layer Mask

Adjustment layers have a mask, which controls where the adjustment is applied. To edit the mask:

1. Select the mask in the Layers panel. Make sure the mask, and not the adjustment layer itself, is selected.
2. Use the brush tool (or any selection tool) with black to hide the adjustment and white to reveal the adjustment. Grayscale values create partial transparency.

Example: Changing a Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer

Let's say you have a "Hue/Saturation" adjustment layer and want to make the blues in an image more vibrant:

1. Select the "Hue/Saturation" adjustment layer in the Layers panel.
2. In the Properties panel, you'll see a dropdown menu (usually set to "Master"). Click on it and choose "Blues".
3. Now, adjust the Hue, Saturation, and Lightness sliders to affect only the blues in the image. Increase the Saturation slider to make the blues more vibrant.

Important Considerations:

• Non-Destructive Editing: Adjustment layers are non-destructive, meaning they don't directly alter the original image pixels. This allows you to experiment and make changes without permanently affecting the underlying image.
• Layer Order: The order of adjustment layers in the Layers panel matters. Adjustment layers affect all layers below them.
• Clipping Masks: You can create clipping masks to apply adjustment layers to only specific layers.