Technique 52: Working with Channels
Using the Channels palette
Viewing and correcting individual channels
Many folks who use Photoshop think that channels are somehow mysterious, dangerous, and not for them. You may not know it, but you use channels all the time. Here’s a secret: Even though Photoshop can create gorgeous, rich colors in fabulous images, those colors are actually created by using grayscale pixels in channels. “What?!” you exclaim. It’s true.
Depending on the color mode that an image is set in, each pixel in an image can contain up to four grayscale color channels — channels that contain the information that colors images. Any selections or masks that you create are saved as alpha channels.
Often forgotten, many times ignored, channels can give you more control over your image editing. This technique focuses on how channels work, where you can find them, and how you can use them to improve your images. So, if you’re ready for a mind-expanding session that will definitely increase your knowledge of Photoshop and its capabilities, check out channels. They’re worth the time!