newb photoshop stupid question – FILL and OPACITY?

P
Posted By
Pudentame
Feb 27, 2008
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330
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What is the difference between "fill" and "opacity"?

I have a layer. It has sliders for "fill" and "opacity". Sliding either to the left makes the layer more transparent. Sliding both to the left makes the layer more transparent

The help file is full of information about adjustment and fill layers, but I can’t find anything that explains the difference between fill and opacity.

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A
aglet
Feb 28, 2008
The opacity slider will, obviously, control the layer’s opacity. But in addition to the affecting the layer’s pixels, it also controls the opacity of any layer styles. The Fill opacity will only affect the pixels. For example, draw a shape on a layer and apply a drop shadow. The opacity will affect both. The fill opacity will affect the shape, but not the drop shadow.

"Pudentame" wrote in message
What is the difference between "fill" and "opacity"?
I have a layer. It has sliders for "fill" and "opacity". Sliding either to the left makes the layer more transparent. Sliding both to the left makes the layer more transparent

The help file is full of information about adjustment and fill layers, but I can’t find anything that explains the difference between fill and opacity.
P
Pudentame
Feb 29, 2008
aglet wrote:
The opacity slider will, obviously, control the layer’s opacity. But in addition to the affecting the layer’s pixels, it also controls the opacity of any layer styles. The Fill opacity will only affect the pixels. For example, draw a shape on a layer and apply a drop shadow. The opacity will affect both. The fill opacity will affect the shape, but not the drop shadow.

Ok, so if I do something like selecting a color range … like the sky

Then I do a layer mask to apply a photo filter only to the blue part … like "Cooling 80B" (I think?) … Is that mask a layer style?

It’s a photoshop trick that was in Pop Photo a couple months back for making blue skies pop. The sky in this image is completely white once I get the levels & curves right (adjustment layers).

I need the sky to be a little bit blue.

But I need to fade the blue until it’s just a hint, not too obvious.

Opacity will fade the whole layer, but Fill will only fade the masked part that’s the blue sky?

Or have I got it backwards … or completely wrong altogether?
BN
Bill Neagle
Feb 29, 2008
If you have masked the sky, add another layer and apply that mask to it, then lower the opacity until you like it. But to answer your question, you are completely wrong. A layer style is an effect done to an object or object on that layer. Try this and I think you’ll see the difference. Type "Fill" on a new layer. Right click on that layer and you will see "layer properties" Click on that and add a drop shadow or a stroke. Then go back and reduce the "fill" slider, then reduce the "opacity" slider. I think you’ll see the difference.

"Pudentame" wrote in message
aglet wrote:
The opacity slider will, obviously, control the layer’s opacity. But in addition to the affecting the layer’s pixels, it also controls the opacity of any layer styles. The Fill opacity will only affect the pixels. For example, draw a shape on a layer and apply a drop shadow. The opacity will affect both. The fill opacity will affect the shape, but not the drop shadow.

Ok, so if I do something like selecting a color range … like the sky
Then I do a layer mask to apply a photo filter only to the blue part … like "Cooling 80B" (I think?) … Is that mask a layer style?
It’s a photoshop trick that was in Pop Photo a couple months back for making blue skies pop. The sky in this image is completely white once I get the levels & curves right (adjustment layers).

I need the sky to be a little bit blue.

But I need to fade the blue until it’s just a hint, not too obvious.
Opacity will fade the whole layer, but Fill will only fade the masked part that’s the blue sky?

Or have I got it backwards … or completely wrong altogether?

How to Master Sharpening in Photoshop

Give your photos a professional finish with sharpening in Photoshop. Learn to enhance details, create contrast, and prepare your images for print, web, and social media.

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