Applying Filters for Special Occasions in Photoshop

Photoshop has dozens of filters that let you enhance your image in unusual ways. You can create Old Masters portraits from common snapshots, shatter your image into a thousand sparkling pieces, create clouds in a cloudless sky, create stained glass, or perform hundreds of other tricks. The big challenge in using these filters is learning what each filter can do and how to apply it to the best effect. There are several Putting-It-Together projects with step-by-step instructions. For the first few examples, I provide you with the settings I used to achieve a particular look. However, filter effects vary greatly when applied to different images, so you’ll have to play with the filter controls yourself when you use these techniques with your own images.

You can apply a filter to a layer, a selection, or a channel. And you can also fade a filter, change opacity settings, and use layer masks to soften the effects of filters. In fact, in some cases, you may have to decrease the effect of a filter because full strength can look overdone. On the other hand, when applied selectively, the same filter may look subtle and sophisticated. Although filters can be a blast to play with, you want to exercise some restraint when applying them for a real project. Getting carried away with the effects is easy when often the simplest effect is the most beautiful.

Working in the Filter Gallery
Photoshop CS has efficiently consolidated several categories of filters into the Filter Gallery (a dialog box-like gizmo that Adobe refers to as an “editing window”). Choose Filter➪Filter Gallery. The mega Filter Gallery dialog box appears. Here, you can apply multiple filters as well as edit or delete them later. This great new feature has given the world of filter application increased flexibility and user friendliness. Here are the steps to get you up and running in the Filter Gallery:
1. Choose Filter➪Filter Gallery, and in the dialog box, click your desired filter category folder.
The folder expands and displays the filters in that category. A thumbnail illustrating the filter’s effect accompanies each filter. To collapse the filter category folder, simply click it again.
2. Select the filter you want to apply.
You can also choose your filter from the filter pop-up menu.
3. Specify any settings associated with the filter.
Note that you get a large preview of your image in the left side of the dialog box. Use the magnification controls to zoom in and out of the preview. As you change your settings, the preview dynamically updates. To preview a different filter, simply select it.
4. When you are happy with the filter, click OK to apply the filter and exit the dialog box.
5. If you want to apply another filter, click the New Effects Layer button at the bottom of the dialog box. This duplicates the existing filter. Choose your new filter, which then replaces the duplicates.
Photoshop lists each of the filters you apply to the image in the bottom right of the dialog box.
6. When you’re done, click OK to apply the second filter and exit the dialog box.
Remember you can apply as many filters as you want to your image (although you don’t want to). Often less is more.

Here are some other helpful tips to keep in mind when using the Filter Gallery:
- To delete an applied filter, select it and click the Delete Effect Layer button (the trash can icon).
- To edit an applied filter’s settings, select it in the list and make any necessary changes. Click OK to reapply. Note that while you can edit a particular filter’s settings, that edit will affect any subsequent filters you have made after applying that particular filter.
- You can rearrange the order of the applied filters. Simply select and drag the filter up or down within the list. Be aware that rearranging the order of the applied filters changes the resulting effect of the filters.
- To resize the Filter Gallery dialog box, drag the lower-right corner.
- To hide the Filter menu and provide the maximum real estate for the preview box, click the arrow to the left of the OK button.
- Note that you can also choose any of the filters found in the Filter Gallery from the Filter menu itself. The Filter Gallery dialog box automatically launches. Although, note that not all filters are available in the Filter Gallery. Some have to be accessed individually from the Filter menu.