- Lab color mode
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A color mode that is device-independent. Lab color consists of three channels: a luminance or lightness channel (L), a green “red component (a), and a blue “yellow component (b). Lab can be used to adjust an image s luminance and color independently of each other.
- labels
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A Photoshop printing option that prints the document and channel name on the image.
- Large Document Format (PSB)
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A Photoshop CS “only compatible file format that supports resolutions up to 300,000 pixels in either direction.
- layer
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A software feature that enables you to isolate image elements so that you can work on each one individually. You can also rearrange the positions of layers , enabling parts of an image to appear in front of other parts . Versions of Photoshop prior to 7 supported 99 layers, but more recent versions support an unlimited number.
- layer comp
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A specific saved state of the Layers palette
- layer mask
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A mask that conceals an area from view. When you apply a layer mask to an image, you control the transparency of a particular part of the layer.
- layer set
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A Photoshop layer-management tool. Layer sets let you consolidate contiguous layers into a folder on the Layers palette. By highlighting the folder, you can apply certain operations to the layers as a group . For example, the layers in a layer set can be simultaneously hidden, displayed, moved, or repositioned.
- layer styles
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Predefined Photoshop effects, such as drop shadows, neon glowing edges, and deep embossing. Layer styles apply their effects to the edges of the layer. Because they can be translucent or soft-edged, the colors of the underlying layer can be seen through the effects.
- Layers palette
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The Photoshop palette that contains controls for working with layers, including creating and deleting layers, reordering layers, merging layers, and many other layer- related functions.
- leading
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The typographic term to describe vertical spacing between lines, measured from baseline to baseline.
- Lens Blur
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A Photoshop CS command that adds blur to an image to give the effect of a narrower depth of field so that some objects in the image stay in focus while others areas become blurred.
- Levels
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A Photoshop tool that enables you to adjust an image s tonal range. When you perform a Levels adjustment, you are actually reassigning pixel values.
- ligature
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A set of two characters that is designed to replace certain character combinations, such as fl and fi , to avoid spacing conflicts.
- linear gradient
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A gradient that is projected from one point to another in a straight line.
- lines per inch (lpi)
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A measurement of the resolution of a halftone screen.
- Liquify
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A Photoshop feature that enables you to distort pixels and transform areas of an image by using a special set of distortion and transformation tools.
- lossless compression
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An image-compression scheme that preserves image detail. When the image is decompressed, it is identical to the original version.
- lossy compression
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An image-compression scheme that creates smaller files but can affect image quality. When decompressed, the image produced is not identical to the original. Usually, colors have been blended, averaged, or estimated in the decompressed version.
- lpi
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See lines per inch .