Technology 2: Non Destructive Image Editing – Operations and ND Alternative

Operation	ND / D	Comments / ND Alternative
Levels / Curves	D	use adjustment layer/mask or do it in LR3
Rotate Image	D / ND	if rotated 90, 180, 270 it is ND otherwise D. Make it a smart object
Clone Stamp	D	create new layer and tick Align box and apply to ‘Current & Lower’
Save file from ACR	D / ND	D if saving as PSD/TIFF/JPG ND if saving as DNG or smart object
Dodge / Burn	D	Layer mask or adjustment layer
Merge Layers / Flatten Image	D	In some cases Layer Grouping may work
Paint Brush	D	Create layer and paint on that
Flip Layer	ND
Cut part of image out from background	D	Use a Layer Mask
Erase Tool / Delete Selected Pixels	D	Use a Layer Mask
Transform Selection – rotate, skew, etc	D	convert to smart object, duplicate smart object and transform the dupe
Flip Selection	D	create a layer
Convert to B/W	D	use adjustment layer
Apply a Filter	D	make smart object * some filters require bit depth change increase is OK but decrease is D
Change Layer Opacity	ND
Change Bit Depth of Image	D / ND	ND if increasing but D if decreasing
Resize Image	D / ND	D if resample when resizing. ND if just resize
Apply a Layer Style	ND
Crop Image	D / ND	D in photoshop ND if cropped in LR
Add an Adjustment Layer	ND
Sharpen the Image	D /ND	D in photoshop. ND if done in LR
Apply Lens Correction	D / ND	D in photoshop. ND if done in LR

Technology 2