The thing with programs like Lightroom, at least when working on RAW files is that all the editing is non destructive and reversible so the idea of layers isn't really relevant anymore. The reason to use layers was to create something on top of the image that you could turn on and off and adjust at any time without altering the underlying image.
With Lightroom and it's equivalents, all the things you do the image are in effect layers (really an XML file telling the machine what to do to the image) that never touches the original, at least that's my understanding.
I do not fully agree. While layers
are a non destructive form of editing I have never used them for that purpose - I find that with photographic post processing unlike in graphic design the need is not so great and its easy to use the history tool to step backwards thru edits in the unlikely event that changes are needed.
But I find layers very useful in other situations. Powerful even!
Firstly layers allow you to use different blending modes. For example creating a duplicate layer and changing its blending mode to "multiply" immediately makes an over exposed image much darker and more contrasty. The opposite applies if you use the "screen" mode on a too dark image. What could be easier than a 2 step fix to an under or over exposed image.
There are also many more complex recipies you can apply to photos to fix various problems using combinations of blending modes. And believe me they are not too hard complex or difficult. But they do work very well indeed.
Secondly I like to use layers as a very effective way of applying
selective edits.
By applying edits on a duplicate layer you can then erase part of the top layer to let the unedited layer below show thru in those erased areas. A good example is when you want to darken up part of the image but not other parts. This is about the simplest and most effective way of selectively applying filters and edits I know.
Thirdly you can use layers to infinitely adust the strength of filters and plugins. By applying a filter to a layer instead of to the original you can then use the "opacity" slider to back off the intensity of the filter. This works great for example with sharpening, where its easy to over do it. But the same can be said for any filter as sometimes the effects strength slider in the filter does not give enough control.
And if you wish to be fancy you can do all of the above.
Before I learned to use layers I used to be skeptical, thinking much the same - that they were only good for non destructive editing.
Now I know better!
🙂
