Skip to main content
S
Spodeworld
Inspiring
December 31, 2009
Question

Photoshop Elements & Curves Adjustment Layer

  • December 31, 2009
  • 2 replies
  • 37606 views

Hi.  I know that PE does not have curves or curves adjustment layers. 

However, there are curves plug-ins that can be downloaded that work pretty well. I am trying to figure out though if there is a way to fake a curves adjustment layer using one of those plug ins.  I want to avoid having to make a new layer that is a merge of the other layers and then applying curves to the resulting new one, because it not only does not act like a curves adjustment layer, but it also makes the file bigger and more difficult to apply tweaks later on.  If anyone knows a way to fake a curves adjustment layer, can you please post it here?

Also, I hope that a future release of PE includes real curves and an adjustment layer for curves.  I have PE7, but am not planning to upgrade to 8 because they have not included this.

Thanks.

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    2 replies

    M
    Mr. Speedlight
    Participating Frequently
    October 14, 2021

    Many years ago I bought Aldus Photostyler and a specific requirement was cuves. 

     

    Today Nikon Capture-NXD and NX Studio offer both LCH (Master Lightness, Color Brightness, Chroma and Hue) as well as traditional Curves and these RAW development program are free.

     

    Back in early PS CS Curves with possible Luminosity blending was available as a 16 bit adjustment layer. 

    At this point I cannot afford Photoshop 2021/2022 in the cloud. I've been financially strapped since becoming a home owner. 

    LCH and Curves as adjustment layers would make Photoshop Elements 2022 a useful program to me. Without a true Curves adjustment layer Photoshop Elements is a no sale. 

     

    Dave

     

    I've been using Photoshop since probably version 3 when Adobe bought Aldus.

      MichelBParis
      MichelBParis
      Legend
      October 15, 2021

      @Mr. Speedlight 

      You know, my answer from five years ago is still (more) valid and I think you should take more time to read it.

      Asking for curves adjustment layers was already an old request in 2016 and I have not seen a single request in this forum in recent years. There must be a reason.

      I totally approve the use of adjustment layers. That's why, even before 'color curves' were added to PSE I learnt to use black and white gradients adjustment curves instead. I still have books describing the process for PSE4. Just another interface metaphor than curves for the points definitions. Same math in the background.

      Remember that at that time, Gurus were pushing you to use L*a*b or HSL.

       

      If you want to get a lot of the missing full Photoshop tools in PSE, I strongly suggest you have a look at the very affordable scripts set from Andrei Doubrovski:

      https://elementsplus.net/

      You get not only curves, but the raw correction tools; and a lot of cool features.

       

      Adding curves adjustment layers to PSE would be good, but that would not make them sell more PSE.

       

        B
        Barbara_B_
        Inspiring
        December 31, 2009

        Elements does have curves. Enhance>Adjust Color>Adjust Color Curves. Now, it's pretty paltry compared to PS curves, but it is there. If you have windows, you should check out the free easy filter curves:

        http://free.pages.at/easyfilter/curves.html

        Whether you use windows or a mac, you can also add a curves adjustment layer from many of the add-on sites. However, in recent versions of PSE you will be limited to adjusting only the combined RGB channel, just as you are with the PSE built-in version. The only advantage is using a graph instead of sliders so you have more tweaky adjustments.

        S
        SpodeworldAuthor
        Inspiring
        December 31, 2009

        Yes, I know about Color Curves, but it is weak compared to the real thing.

        Also, I do have Curves plug ins, but I have not been able to find one that allows me to create an adjustment layer.  Do you know of any?  Or, if the curves plug in can be used to behave as an adjustment layer, in much the same way the other built-in adjustment layers act?

        Thanks.

        S
        SpodeworldAuthor
        Inspiring
        December 31, 2009

        No, what you're doing is what you have to do if you do it that way. But even a curves adjustment layer doesn't allow to go back and tweak it: you have to throw it out and create a new one (although I realize that's still more flexible than the plug-in, in that respect). It's less flexible in that you don't have as many ways to adjust to begin with, not in a curves adjustment layer in PSE.


        Yes, it is limited, but with a little bit of playing I am finding them useful.  In the curves PSD from his Web site there are a about 6 layers of layer adjustments that you can drop into Elements.  For example, you can drop a Medium Contrast adj layer in.  Then, if that is not enough (and if Strong Contrast was stronger than you wanted), you could drop another one in, play with opacity as well as blend modes.  Of course, not the flexibility you want, but if you don't want some of the advantages of an adjustment layer, this is one way to get some of it. 

        I wish we had a more robust set of adjustment layers in Elements, so this will have to make do, and when not enough, I guess I will have to merge a new layer from the existing and work from there. 

        Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
        Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices