Enhancing Images

Blending Mode

I had to download a dirty texture image and put it in photoshop, then I drag it into my existing Koala in the Desert Photoshop as another layer. The Koala in the Desert layer is above the Dirty Texture Layer. I chose the 'darker colour' blending Mode I thought works visually from the dropdown on the Layers Panel to enhance the image.

Layer Panel

Final Result

Working with blend modes is almost always an experimental process. Because it’s nearly impossible to predict the results, you always seem to end up experimenting with different modes and Fill Opacities until you get the results you’re looking for.

Adjustment Layer

Use a range of adjustment layers of your choice to come up with 3 further variations of the image background. I have to  change the background and not affect the Koala.

Original

First Effect

Second Effect

Third Effect

An adjustment layer applies color and tonal adjustments to your image without permanently changing pixel values. For example, rather than making a Levels or Curves adjustment directly to your image, you can create a Levels or Curves adjustment layer. The color and tonal adjustments are stored in the adjustment layer and apply to all the layers below it; you can correct multiple layers by making a single adjustment, rather than adjusting each layer separately. You can discard your changes and restore the original image at any time.

Layer Style

Photoshop provides a variety of effects—such as shadows, glows, and bevels—that change the appearance of a layer’s contents in a non destructive way. Layer effects are linked to the layer contents. When you move or edit the contents of the layer, the same effects are applied to the modified contents. For example, if you apply a drop shadow to a text layer and then add new text, the shadow is added automatically to the new text.

A layer style is one or more effects applied to a layer or layer group. You can apply one of the preset styles provided with Photoshop or create a custom style using the Layer Style dialog box. The layer effects icon  appears to the right of the layer’s name in the Layers panel. You can expand the style in the Layers panel to view or edit the effects that compose the style.

You can apply multiple effects in a single layer style. Also, more than one instance of some effects can comprise a layer style.