Smart filters that blend through multiple layers?

Does anyone know if this is possible? I'd like to use Smart Filters - or something - to stack filters in a way that's cumulative and applied to the layers below. It's been a couple versions since I really sank my teeth into the deeper parts of layer blending. Just wondering if this is possible. I know how to simulate the effect with clever masking and lots of filters, I was just wondering if it's been implemented in a more interactive way.
For example, I'd like to create a Gaussian Blur masked effect (white box below), and layer it up with other Gaussian Blur effect layers so that their effect where they overlap is cumulative (blue box). Basically I'd like the area of the effect to be a live, movable widget, and be able to arrange these widgets dynamically.
Make sense? Is this a feature request? Or is it one of those "oh man that's been in Photoshop since 3.0, you didn't know?" things.

Well, in Photoshop CS2 I haven't seen any way to do that, although if you find a way be sure to share!!
But CS2 does have some image-modifying filter-like layers (AKA fills and adjustment layers). It creates a new layer that applies adjustments to the layers underneath and it has an editable mask. Although they don't have as much variety as filters themselves (or gaussian blurs for that matter), they are stackable and incredibly useful when you want reversable edits!
The adjustment layer button are right by the "New Layer" button--it's the half black half white circle. Sorry if you already knew about this, just trying to be of at least some help! Maybe those CS3-54 users can provide further insight into this...?
-Monica

Similar Messages

Photoshop Mask Layer, see through multiple layers.

Dear All -
I am a new learner to Photoshop and working on Layers and Layer Mask to obtain see through multiple Layers effect.
Below is the description of my problem that I am looking forward towards resolution in this forum. I will be glad if some expert can guide me on this.
I have three layers of different colors as below.
Layer 1topmost layer) with Red color filled rectangle.
Layer 2(below Layer 1) with Green color filled rectangle.
Layer 3(bottom most layer, below Layer 2) with Blue color filled rectangle.
When I erase something with brush on Layer 1 using masking Layer 1, it hollows the erased part and start showing the Green color of Layer 2 in hollow section of Layer 1.
What I want to achieve is that, when I erase Layer 1 using layer mask, then it should hollow Layer 1 as well as Layer 2 and should show Blue color in the hollow section of Layer 1.
i.e: Hollow section made on Layer 1(using Layer Mask on Layer 1) should also be applied on Layer 2 so that Layer 1 and Layer 2 becomes hollow using eraser and I should see through Layer 1 and Layer 2 and Blue color of Layer 3 should be visible from the hollow section.
Though I can do this by Flattening Layer 1 and Layer 2 together so that it forms one single Image, and then when I hollow this Flattened image using Layer Mask, then it will show me Blue color. But I do not want to do this, as I would lose the flexibility to unhollow/recover the hollow region on both Layer 1 and Layer 2 independently in the future.
Thank You,
Saurabh Khanna.

Here's a sample of copying the layer mask onto layer 2 using a hard cutout.
Here's the same thing using a soft feather cutout.

How do I create holes through multiple layers?

I'd like to use boxes to punch holes into the layered artwork below them. I want the result to look exactly like this image, but with the white boxes being transparent holes.
This seems so simple, but I can't find any combination of layers/pathfinder tools/compound shapes/or clipping masks that will produce this result. No matter what, I end up losing part of the artwork (usually the topo lines and the black bar).
What am I missing??
Thanks in advance for any advice.

mirvlem,
You may:
1) Select the boxes to become holes and Object>Group (if nort already);
2) Select everything and in the Transparence palette flyout tick Make Opacity Mask with Clip unticked and Invert mask ticked.
There seems to be no need for multiple layers, but the Opacity mask punches through them all right.

Linear wipe through multiple layers

Hi, I am trying to set up a project where by i can drop multiple stills images into a comp and have a linear wipe go through them one by one, all controlled by expressions.
similar to vfx breakdown's you get on Youtube
MPC Prometheus VFX breakdown! - YouTube
Being an intrepid novice to expressions I though "I can do that, no problem!"
So I have a comp with the images in it and another comp with the wipe effect in it. Inside the wipe effect comp I have 2 layers, a null with two sliders and a solid with a linear wipe effect.
The first slider (called pause) controls the length of time before the wipe effect begins and 2nd (called wipeSpeed) controls speed of the wipe:
if (time < thisComp.layer("Controls Wipe").effect("pause")("Slider")){
0
}else{
((time - thisComp.layer("Controls Wipe").effect("pause")("Slider")) * thisComp.layer("Controls Wipe").effect("wipeSpeed")("Slider"))
This works great I can apply a set channels effect to each image layer that takes its alpha channel from the comp with the wipe effect.
But this is just the first step after this I have become stumped, searching the web unsuccessfully for information, I hope I can get some advice here.
What I think needs to happen next is once the transition % for the wipe has reached 100 the time (play head for the comp) needs to go back to frame 0 and the whole process begins again.
Each time the cycle has run the upper most layer in the stack, that is visible, needs to be made invisible, that way each new layer below can be revealed and the whole layer stack is played through sequentially.
I hope that makes sense and there is someone out there that can help. Thanks for your time.
Felix

A Knockout Layer (Advanced Blending) might be an option, but I would recommend putting the Layers in a Group and applying a Vector Mask or Layer Mask to the Group. (edited)

Is it possible to erase through multiple layers?

The closest I know is group the layers and then use a mask but this is painful especially applying the mask to many layer.
Any easier way?

So I gather it is not possible. Then at least is it possible to automate this by scripting or writing a plugin. I wish I press a hotkey that groups all layers and creates a layer mask. Then after erasing another hotkey applies the mask to all layers and removes the group.
I wouldn't say it's not possible. Select all layers, group and mask; and merge group and apply mask both should be quite actionable. Tell us a little more about your process if you have the time. I feel the eraser tool shouldn't even be part of the suite anymore so am obviously interested in real uses for it. Maybe others might have some better solutions if you give a little more info.

Expression / Linked slider for controlling multiple layers

I'm trying to create a slideshow with many many layers. Image sizes vary across the board.
I'd like to line them all up and set some Ken Burns keyframes on the scale before I use keyframe assistant to sequence them.
Is there anyway I can control these keyframes with relative values? So that I scale multiple layers in the same manner although they have different concrete values?

You can set up an expression that automatically starts a scale and a move on an image, tie variables to Effects Control Sliders and save the whole set as an Animation preset. That way you can drop all your photos in a time line, Scale and position the layer in it's final resting place, then set an out point for each layer, then elect them all and apply an animation preset and sequence the layers. EZ as pie, once you write the expression.
To setup an auto scale expression you simply divide the height of the composition by the height of the current layer and multiply by 100. Adding an expression Control Checkbox to layer and naming it AutoScale will give you the ability to turn auto scaling of the layer on or off. Here's the expression:
h=height;
ch = thisComp.height;
s = ch/h * 100;
if (effect("AutoScale")("Checkbox") == 1) {
ns = s}
else
ns = value[0];
[ns, ns, 100]
Use caution because this will scale a layer up to fill the comp height as well as scale a layer down. Also take note that if your layer is scaled down more than 50% you are probably not getting the best results in terms of image clarity or render times. Ideally any 2d footage layer in your composition should be some where close to 100% scale at some point in the composition. If the layer is 3D then the distance between the camera and the 3D layer should be approximately equal to the zoom value at some point in the composition with the layer at 100% scale.
Just for fun, try this Effects Preset that I have in my collection. Make the layers 3D, position them at their ending position, set an out point, then apply the animation preset. The layer will fade in and move to the ending position then fade out. You have a point control to control the starting point and a switch to make the layer fit the comp vertically. You can control the fade in - fade out time in frames, set easing, setup rotation, and there is a setup switch to kill opacity changes so you can see the starting and ending setup for your layers.
3DSlideshow.ffx
It's a good idea to start building your own animation presets library so you can have access to complex expressions with a click or two. I have more than 200 in mine. I pointed an alias to a dropbox account so I can have access to all my presets anywhere I am in the world.

How to Apply adjustment layers to multiple layers that have different blending modes ...

How to Apply adjustment layers to multiple layers that have different blending modes and keep the colours the same as the adjusment done?
I work in Animation painting Backgrounds. My files are sometimes upwards to 200+ layers.
I will use adjustment layers to quickly balance colours and constrast on top of those many many layers.
The only way that I know of how to apply adjustment layers it to every single layer ( by applying I mean I need to get rid of the adjustment layers because we cant use them in production but i need the new colours be applied to all layers underneath ) in a psd is to manually do it By duplicating the adjusment layer 200+ times and then merging each layer to one of those adjustment layers so that that layer can take the adjustment layers effect permanently.
The issue is that Within Those 200 layers I have some layers set to Multiply or OVERLAY.    IT obviously wont apply the adjustment layer properly to those layers because those layer blend mode affect the layers under them. The colour wont be the same anymore in the spots that had the multiply blended mode.
HEres an example of a simple File. to show what i mean.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3408266/ball%20layers.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3408266/ball.psd
I have 2 adjustment layers up top. I need to get rid of them by applying them to each layer! I cannot merge any of the layers. We need all those layers for production.
I can apply the adjustment layers manually and this works GREAT for all Layers set to normal. THey take on the colour change just FINE.
However, The issue is that layer 6 and layer 4 are both set to mutiply and this screws up the colour once i apply the adjustment layers to each layer manually...
How can i apply my adjustment layers to a file like this with some layers being set to multiply while keeping the layers exactly the same configuration and The new colour taking efffect exactly how i looks before i apply the adjustment layers?
Now the simple solution is to merge the multiply layers to the layer that it affects HOWEVER I NEED those multiply layers to be seperate!
I'm assuming what I want to do is impossible? Hope this isnt confusing. As far as i know its impossible to do what I want it to do. but just wanted to ask and see.
I would REALLY REALLY love to talk to a adobe programmer/ technician/pro working at adobe about this. Theres just no way to get in touch with anyone... =(
any thoughts ?

Sure... if you want to put it that way. Either way its not the desirable outcome.
its just frustrating that theres no way to apply adjustment layers to hundreds of layers while keeping them in the same configuration ( blendmodes, layer order , without merging) while keeping the same end result.
works great if all your layers are set to normal though..    But I really need to keep shadow layers seperately and be able to adjust on the fly aswell as apply those adjusment to all my layers.
I suppose that just isnt possible.   I understand the math required for this would be tremendous/ complicated if something like this would ever be implemented. Would be nice if adobe could come up with some solution to this. Its really a huge issue in my work flow and theres no alternatives.    How else can I adjust colours to 100+ layers with a few clicks that lets me play around the the adjustment until im happy with the outcome.    Really wish i could adjust and the quickly apply that adjustment to all my layers regardless of blend mode.   LIke If the Layers with blendmode could somehow take the properties of the adjustment layer and keep adjusting those layers undereathe on top of that blended mode that its doing...

How to change blending mode on multiple layers at the same time

I'm using CS5. I have a document with about 70 layers. I would like to change the blending mode to "lighten" for each layer. Is there an easy way to do this?

Photoshop doesn't allow multiple layer editing. That's why the styles are grayed out. Only 1 layer at a time.
What version are you talking about?
CS5 definitely let’s one apply a Style to multiple Layers.
rfcommagere, I don’t know how to make it much clearer:
• set the Blending Mode on one Layer
• with that Layer selected create a Style with »Include Layer Blending Options« checked
• select all other Layers that should have that Blending Mode
• click the Style in the Styles Panel

In Photoshop Elements 11 attempting to blend two photos ( layering one on another) when I click on a brush, I get a smart brush which doesn't do what the instruction say it should do. Instead I can get the eraser to do what I need to do. Why the confusion

In Photoshop Elements 11 attempting to blend two photos (layering one on another) I click on brush and get a smart brush which doesn't do what the instructions say it will do. I can get the eraser to do what I want. Why the confusion???

I click on brush and get a smart brush which doesn't do what the instructions say it will do.
The Brush tool (Keyboard B) has several different brushes in the same slot. Right click on the brush icon and you will see them, or press B sequentially.
The Smart Brush tool (Keyboard F) has two items in the slot.
Since you did not provide reference to "the instructions", it is difficult to remedy the "confusion." that exists.
I suspect that the recipe calls for a mask, and painting with a black brush to mask out certain areas.
It would help if you post the instructions and what your goal is with more specificity.

Convert multiple layers into separate smart objects

I have multiple layers in a document that I want to make into separate smart objects.
If I select them and choose "convert to smart object" in the Layers Panel fly out, it flattens the layers into 1 smart object.
Can it be done, or do I need to make each layer a smart object one at a time.
OR... let me back up
I have several files in Bridge, I want to "load into Photoshop layers" using the TOOLS > Batch Command BUT have each file load as a smart object.
Either way would be great!

While these don't use the batch command, take a look at
from within photoshop, File>Scripts>Load Files into Stack.
For bridge try Dr. Browns Services:
http://www.russellbrown.com/scripts.html
If you have cs5, you can drag files from mini bridge into an existing
photoshop document, for smart object layers, provided you have
your preferences under general to place or drag raster images as smart objects.
MTSTUNER

Is there a Tool or function (in Illustrator or InDesign) that selects any shape and "punches" a "hole" of that shape all the way down through multiple objects to the paper or artboard?

Is there a Tool or function (in Illustrator or InDesign) that selects any shape and “punches” a “hole” of that shape all the way down through multiple objects to the paper or artboard?

In Illustrator, group the objects that you want to punch through, and use the transparency pallet.

Hello I saw in the latest version of photoshop , smart guides make a measurement between layers, I still have windows xp and I can not buy that version , there is something like to do that but cs6 ? thx

hello I saw in the latest version of photoshop , smart guides make a measurement between layers, I still have windows xp and I can not buy that version , there is something like to do that but cs6 ? thx

There definitely is! Here's a link to the Adobe tutorial: Work with Smart Guides | Adobe Photoshop CC tutorials

How to share the same mask across multiple layers?

Say one needs multiple layers, one above another, to share the same layer mask. Is there any smart way to tell all those layers they have to use the same mask? As opposed to copying the same mask into all layers. The latter approach has the disadvantage that, when you need to change the mask, you need to copy it again into all layers that must share it.
Thank you.

Put the Layers in a Set and apply the mask to that.

Feature Request, option to relink all unlinked layer masks when transforming multiple layers at once.

As a professional PS artist who works on files with sometimes hundreds of layers, I often need to transform many layers or groups at once. It is a nightmare to find that after the transformation, a mask did not get included in the transformation, (especially when the file is many gigs large, and the transformation took 15 minutes). Sometimes, a mask is accidentally unlinked, but more commonly I unlink it temporarily, but forget to relink it. There is currently no way that I'm aware of to find these pesky unlinked layers, other than going through every single one. What would work great is to have a popup asking if you would like to relink all unlinked layers, whenever you're transforming multiple layers that include one or more unlinked masks. Or else have an option in the layers palette to either select or relink all unlinked layered masks. Hope this makes sense. Cheers!

Michael,
It looks like you are right! Thank you for your help.
I still have a small concern. I looked at the documentation and it reads,
"The configuration settings for a cache instance are stored in the USER_SDO_CACHED_MAPS metadata view. You should normally not manipulate this view directly, but should instead use the MapViewer administration tool, which uses this view to configure map cache instances."
But, I tried inserting records into USER_SDO_CACHED_MAPS and it works, and I can't really see any reason not to directly insert records into this table, so...
Perhaps that warning is there simply because potentially you could screw things up tinkering with the table directly.
Cheers!
John

Custom keyboard shortcuts and editing multiple layers in Flash CS4

Hi, all -
CS3 -> CS4 transition newb here who's getting increasingly frustrated with the new motion tweens; however, for this project, I'm working in a 3D space and require using them, so I'm dealing with this bit by painful bit. I found the tip about Split Motion, but first question: how do you apply Split Motion across several layers at the same time? I have six different tweens, and in CS3, I used to be able to shift-click or click-drag across frames and apply a command to all of them (for example, hit F5 to add frames), but Split Motion is requiring me to right-click on each and every layer. This is really laborious, and I worry about future animations that might be more complex.
Similarly, I tend to add custom keyboard shortcuts to each of my Flash versions for commands I use frequently and don't want to right-click a menu for (such as "add motion tween") - however, I can't seem to find where to create a custom shortcut for either that, or Split Motion.
Any and all help would be appreciated as I muddle through this. Honestly, guys, I WANT to like the new version and there's so many added features, but it's hampering my workflow so bad I want to pummel it with sticks.

Hey there,
I definitely hear you about Split Motion. There is an enhancement request for supporting multiple layers, and adding it as a keyboard shortcut. The first one is tricky, but the second one is not. I think there was hope that splitting motions wouldn't be necessary much (especially since you have to be careful when doing so when eases are involved), which is why the eventual need for more functionality related to split motion was realized a bit late in the schedule.
Now regarding other operations, such as you mentioned F5 to insert frames - that and other operations (inserting certain types of property keyframes, F6, and so on) work just fine.
You can apply a shortcut to Create Motion Tween in the custom keyboard shortcut dialog. Not all operations in the program are available though (most context menu items aren't), which is why unfortunately why we don't see Split Motion yet.
It might be possible to avoid Split Motion though with another workflow. What are you using the feature for? Just curious in case I can help.
Jen.

Smart filters that blend through multiple layers?

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