How to Apply an Adjustment Layer to a Single Layer (Nothing Below) in Photoshop CC
0Are you struggling to apply an adjustment layer to a single layer in Photoshop CC without affecting any layers below it? In this tutorial, we'll show you how to do just that.
First, select the layer you want to apply the adjustment layer to. Then, click on the "New Adjustment Layer" button at the bottom of the Layers panel and choose the desired adjustment layer, such as Levels, Curves, or Hue/Saturation.
By default, the adjustment layer will affect all layers below it, but we only want it to affect the single layer we've selected. To do this, simply hold down the Alt key (Option key on Mac) and hover your mouse between the adjustment layer and the layer below it until you see the icon change to a downward-pointing arrow with a rectangle next to it.
Click on this icon, and the adjustment layer will now only affect the layer directly below it. You can verify this by checking the adjustment layer's layer mask, which should only have the selected layer's thumbnail visible.
That's it! Now you can make adjustments to a single layer without affecting any layers below it. This technique is particularly useful for retouching and color grading, among other things.
Don't forget to share your newfound knowledge with the world using the hashtags #Photoshop, #PhotoshopTutorial, #GraphicDesign, #PhotoEditing, #DesignTutorial, #DesignTips, #DesignSkills, #CreativeDesign, and #DigitalArt.