| Q1: | Does switching over to Lab Color mode hurt my image? |
| A1: | Not at allyou can switch from RGB to Lab Color and back to RGB without damaging your image. |
| Q2: | I've heard you can also use Apply Image to combine or collage two images. But even though I have two images open in Photoshop, in Apply Image it doesn't see the other image. What gives? |
| A2: | The two images have to be the exact same size and resolutionthen you'll see the second image in Apply Image's Source pop-up menu (as shown below). By the way, don't get all excited, because using Apply Image in this way is pretty much like simply using layer blend modes in the Layers palette, except that you can choose individual channels of the source image.  |
| Q3: | When I use the Blend If sliders, my image looks really jaggy. Is something wrong? |
| A3: | You betcha. You forgot to "split the sliders" (as shown below) which is done by pressing-and-holding the Option key (PC: Alt key) before you click-and-drag the slider. Without holding that modifier key down before you drag, the transitions aren't smooth and you get a harsh, jaggy blend.  |
| Q4: | Is there any way to blend just certain channels together, and not all at once? |
| A4: | Absolutelyjust choose Blending Options from the Add a Layer Style pop-up menu at the bottom of the Layers palette, then turn off the channels you don't want blended (you'll see checkboxes for Red, Green, and Blue, as shown below).  |
| Q5: | Is there an easy way to make my channels into separate documents? |
| A5: | Yup. Just go to the Channels palette's flyout menu and choose Split Channels (as shown below). This splits all your channels (color and Alpha channels) into their own separate grayscale documents.  ©ISTOCKPHOTO/JON STEPHENSON |
| Q6: | Does saving a selection as a channel delete or overwrite my current channel? |
| A6: | Luckily, no. Each time you save a selection as a channel, it creates a brand new channel, so all your existing channels are safe. |
| Q7: | Is it pronounced "Lab" (like Laboratory) or LAB? |
| A7: | It's LABjust like RGB, or CMYK, you say the letters. |
