Fundamental Photoshop Skills: Layers, Selections, and Image Adjustments (Exploring AI selection features)

1 Why These Skills Matter

Whether you’re restoring an old photo, mocking up a brand‑new interface, or compositing fantasy artwork, layers, selections, and image adjustments form the backbone of every Photoshop workflow. Mastering them early will make every other tool in the program feel intuitive.

2  Layers – Your Non‑Destructive Safety Net

Layers behave like transparent acetate sheets that you can stack, hide, reorder, or blend. Because each element lives on its own layer, you can edit without harming anything underneath.

Essential Layer Actions
CreateCtrl/Cmd + J (duplicate) or the New Layer icon
RenameDouble‑click the layer name—your future self will thank you
GroupCtrl/Cmd + G to keep complex files tidy
MaskAdd a white (reveal‑all) or black (hide‑all) mask for non‑destructive erasing
Smart ObjectConvert layers to scale or warp without losing quality

Tip – Think “top‑down”: Photoshop renders from the bottom of the panel upward. Place background imagery at the bottom and text or effects layers on top.

Different parts of the Layers panel in Photoshop

A. Layers panel menu, B. Layer filters; C. Layer group; D. Expand, collapse layer effects; E. Layer effects
Image by Adobe

3  Selections – Telling Photoshop Where to Work

3.1 Manual Selection Tools

ToolBest ForShortcut
Marquee (Rectangular/Elliptical)Geometric areas—buttons, badgesM
Lasso / Polygonal LassoFreehand or straight‑edge shapesL
Magic WandLarge zones of solid colourW
Quick SelectionSubjects with clear edges; “paint‑to‑select” feelW (hold Shift to cycle)

3.2 AI‑Powered Selection Tools

Photoshop’s Sensei AI radically reduces the drudge work:

AI ToolWhat It DoesPractical Example
Select SubjectOne‑click subject isolation powered by machine learning.Instantly cut out a portrait for a profile picture.
Object SelectionDrag a loose rectangle, Photoshop predicts the object inside.Separate multiple products in an e‑commerce photo.
Remove Background (Properties → Quick Actions)Auto‑creates a masked layer from the dominant subject.Social media stickers or mock‑ups.

After any AI selection, open Select & Mask (Ctrl/Cmd + Alt/Opt + R) to refine hair, fur, or complex edges. Use:
  • Radius Slider – auto‑detect soft/hard transitions.

  • Refine Edge Brush – manually paint wispy areas.

  • Decontaminate Colors – removes colour fringing on cut‑outs.

Select people is now available in Object Selection tool

4  Image Adjustments – Crafting the Final Look

4.1 Direct vs. Adjustment Layers

  • Image → Adjustments applies edits permanently to the active layer.

  • Adjustment Layers sit above your artwork and affect every layer below—fully reversible.

4.2 Core Adjustment Types

AdjustmentUse It ToPro Tip
Brightness/ContrastQuick global tweaksSubtlety (±20) prevents clipping
LevelsCorrect mid‑tones, recover highlights/shadowsHold Alt/Opt while dragging the black/white sliders to see clipping
CurvesPrecise tone shaping; create S‑curves for punchy contrastAdd 3‑point anchor nodes (shadows, mid‑tones, highlights)
Hue/SaturationShift colours or desaturate backgroundsTarget a single color channel via the drop‑down
Color BalanceFix colour castsToggle Preserve Luminosity to avoid brightness shifts

AI‑Powered Boost: The Neural Filters panel (Window → Neural Filters) offers one‑click Colorize, Tone, and Photo Restoration—handy starting points you can refine manually.

5  Quick Workflow Example

  1. Import your base photo (drag into Photoshop).

  2. Duplicate the Background layer (Ctrl/Cmd + J).

  3. Click Remove Background in Properties. Photoshop creates a masked subject layer.

  4. Add a Gradient Layer beneath for a custom backdrop.

  5. Use Curves Adjustment Layer above everything; tweak an S‑curve for contrast.

  6. Double‑click the mask thumbnail to re‑enter Select & Mask and refine any stray hairs.

  7. Group layers (Ctrl/Cmd + G), name it “Hero Shot”, and save as PSD to preserve editability.

6  Best Practices Cheat‑Sheet

  • Name, colour‑code, and group layers as projects grow.

  • Keep original pixels safe—mask or convert to Smart Objects instead of erasing.

  • Zoom in to 100 % when judging edge quality.

  • Use Adjustment Layers with masks to target only the selected area.

  • Blend If sliders (Layer Style → Blending Options) are a hidden gem for seamless compositing.

7  Key Takeaways

  • Layers = non‑destructive control over every element.

  • Selections (especially AI‑assisted) = surgical precision in where edits happen.

  • Image Adjustments = tone, colour, and mood mastery.

Invest time in these fundamentals and the rest of Photoshop—filters, text effects, even generative AI tools—will feel like natural extensions of skills you already own.

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