SUPERCHARGE YOUR FILTER EFFECTS

Next time before you apply a cool filter to an image, instead of just selecting an area and applying the filter, press Command-J (PC: Control-J) to put your selected area up on its own layer. What's the advantage of this? Well first, it gives you more control over the effect. For example, by havig the area on its own layer, after you apply the filter, you can then change the Blend Modes of the layer to get even more out of the filters (multiplying it, screening it, overlaying it, etc.). And secondly, you have control of your filter "after the fact." If, after you apply the filter, you feel it's too intense, you can always lower the Opacity of the layer to calm it down a bit.