Photoshop Elements and CS
Adjustment Layers and Clipping Groups

Getting Started

  1. Open the file “GrandCanyon.jpg”
  2. Create a duplicate layer using the command “Layer – Duplicate Layer” and name the new layer “Base”
  3. Create a second duplicate layer using the command “Layer – Duplicate Layer” and name the new layer “Canyon”

Delete the Sky

  1. Select the sky using the magic wand tool and fixing the selection as needed.
  2. Make the "Canyon" layer active.
  3. Delete the sky from the canyon layer by pressing the delete key.
  4. Remove the selection with the ctrl-D command.

Separate the Background and Foreground

  1. Select the canyon using the magic wand and the polygonal lasso tool.
  2. Separate the two layers with the command "Layer -- New -- Layer via cut"
  3. Rename the two canyon layers so that the foreground is named "Foreground" and the canyon layer is named "Canyon"

Bring in a new sky

  1. Open the file "ArizonaSky.jpg"
  2. With "ArizonaSky" active, use the command "Select -- All" then "Edit -- Copy"
  3. With "GrandCanyon" active use the command ""Edit -- Paste"
  4. Rename "Layer 1" to "Sky"
  5. Move the "Sky" layer to just behind the Canyon and Foreground layers by dragging the layer to its proper position.
  6. Move the "Sky" layer up until you get some clouds using the move tool.

Enhance the Canyon

  1. Make the Canyon layer active
  2. Make a new levels adjustment layer with the command "Layer -- New Adjustment Layer -- Levels".  In the New Layer dialogue box check "Group With Previous Layer".
  3. Make appropriate levels adjustments.  Because it is grouped with the Canyon layer the adjustments effect only that layer.  It does not effect the foreground or the sky.
  4. Repeat steps 2 & 3 except make a hue/saturation adjustment layer grouped with the Canyon layer.
  5. Repeat step 2 & 3 again except make a brightness/contrast adjustment layer.
  6. You may go back to any of the adjustment layers and tweak the adjustments by double clicking on the layer icon.

Enhance the Foreground

  1. Make the Foreground layer active.
  2. Create three adjustment layers for the foreground as you did for the canyon.
  3. Make all necessary adjustments.

Enhance the sky

  1. For the sky you probably will need only the levels layer.
  2. You can go back to any of the adjustment layers and tweak the adjustments to get the whole image to look good.

Add Wildlife

  1. Open the file "SDM Cougar.jpg"
  2. Create a duplicate layer and name it "Cougar"
  3. Make the background layer invisible.
  4. Cut out the cougar with the eraser tool by erasing all of the Cougar layer except the cougar.  You can augment this process with some of the selection tools.
  5. Drag the Cougar layer from the Cougar image to the Canyon image.
  6. Move the cougar to whereever you wish it in the photo.  Probably on the lower left side of the image.
  7. Create adjustement layers for the Cougar layer and enhance the cougar image.

Finish up

  1. Flatten the image.
  2. Sharpen the image.
  3. Save the image.
A dull and gray Grand Canyon





A new sky and a little bit of levels
and saturation work wonders.





A nice big kitty cat





And we found a Cougar
in the Grand Canyon