Section 7 · Image Construction & Compositing

Adjustment Layers

Definition

Non-destructive layers applying a tonal or color adjustment (levels, curves, hue/saturation, color balance) to the layers beneath, with their own masks and opacity.

Why it matters

They allow grading an image, or one element within it, without permanently altering source pixels — and can be re-tuned at any point.

Example

A curves adjustment clipped to a single source so only that element’s contrast shifts.