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Photoshop and PSP Channels: Photoshop Channel Basics
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If you are interested in channels, and you own Photoshop, you are one
lucky designer. Photoshop's professional print roots show clearly when
we move into the channels subject. Of course, in software, powerful
capability almost always increases the confusion factor as you are learning.
Let's take it a step at a time, though, and I am confident you will
say, "Is that all there is to it," at the end. The only really
tough thing about channels is wrapping your brain around the fact that
channels are really not separate, but that they work together to produce
the main image. OK, maybe it is a little confusing when you move into
masks find them in the same place, but we will look at that, too. Just
stick with me to the end. You want this in your toolbox and channels
are really so easy.
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Channels panel active with RGB chosen. This selects
all the color channels in the palette. Note that the thumbnails show
the view that will appear in your screen when that channel is activated.
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Displaying channels
The Channels palette is located in the same window as the Layers palette
by default. This location can be easily changed, so if you cannot find
the Channels palette, you can open the window by selecting Window>Show
Channels. Clicking on the Channels tab at any time will activate the
Channels palette.
In the view shown at the left, RGB is selected, which automatically
selects all channels. When you are working with the full image, this
is the selection your Channels panel will show.
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To work on any channel individually, click on the appropriate
channel listing in the Channels palette. The colored image will
change to a grayscale image which represents the distribution
of that color. The image at the right is exactly the same as the
one at the left, but the Red channel is active. Note how the thumbnail
images reflect the view, with the RGB view showing in full color.
With the red channel active, any edits in the main screen will
affect only the red channel.
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Try it! Select only the red channel in an image. In the main document
screen, apply a filter to the grayscale image. Activate the blue or
green channel and you will see that there has been no change. Now activate
the RGB channel, and you should see an effect, but it will affect only
red in the image. Perhaps there will be a pattern showing in red –
very hard to predict what you will see, but there will be a change if
you have used a strong enough filter.
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Click here or on the
image below to see a larger view of the Photoshop screen.
Photos © Tom
Thomson Photography.
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Viewing the changes as you work
I can just hear you saying, "Great, we get to work blind."
Without a very handy little feature, that would be true. But Photoshop
allows you to open another view of the same image.
With your image active and RGB channel active in the Channel palette,
select View > New View. Another version of the same image will appear
in a window on your screen. Of course, both windows are the same to
start. But click the red channel in one of the windows. Now you have
one window with the RGB view, and one with the red. Try making an adjustment
to the red channel window. The red channel view will change, but the
RGB window will also reflect the change.
Carry on to the next page for more on separating channels – but
this time we are deadly serious. We are really going to split the channels.
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Next page
Photoshop and PSP Channels Tutorial Index
Photoshop and PSP Channels: What, When and Why?
Photoshop Channel Basics
Splitting Channels in Photoshop
Paint Shop Pro Channel Basics
Enhance Images and Create Special Effects
  
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