Apply brushed adjustments

There are two methods you can use to brush adjustments on images. When you want to apply an adjustment to a small portion of an image, you can specify the adjustment settings and then brush the adjustment on just that area. This is called brushing in.

Figure. Image showing a circular overlay with a plus sign indicating the position of the brush and that the adjustment is being brushed in.

When you want to apply an adjustment to most of an image except for a specific portion, you can specify the settings for the adjustment and then brush the adjustment on the areas of the image you want to exclude. This is called brushing away.

Figure. Image showing a circular overlay with a minus sign indicating the position of the brush and that the adjustment is being brushed away.

After applying a brushed adjustment to an image, you can still modify the effect of the adjustment on the image. Whether you brushed a standard adjustment or a Quick Brush adjustment, you can modify the adjustment using the controls for that adjustment in the Adjustments inspector or the Adjustments pane of the Inspector HUD.

Note: The parameter settings for the Retouch and Halo Reduction brushed adjustments cannot be modified after the adjustments have been applied.

Brush an adjustment in

Select a photo.
If the adjustment you want to apply to the image isn’t shown in the Adjustments inspector or the Adjustments pane of the Inspector HUD, choose the adjustment from the Add Adjustment pop-up menu.
Note: The Red Eye Correction, Spot & Patch, Straighten, Crop, Flip, White Balance, and Exposure adjustments cannot be brushed on images.
Specify parameter settings for the adjustment while viewing the effect on the image.
When the area of the image you want to adjust has the correct appearance, choose “Brush [adjustment] in” from the adjustment’s Action pop-up menu.
The pointer turns into a brush, and the Brush HUD for the adjustment appears. The adjustment is also removed from the image.
In the Brush HUD, specify the following settings:
- To adjust the size of the brush: Use the Brush Size parameter controls.
  Tip: Use the scroll gesture to quickly resize the brush as you work.
- To adjust the softness of the brush: Use the Softness parameter controls.
- To adjust the intensity of the brush: Use the Strength parameter controls.
- To specify that the adjustment detect edges in order to preserve detail: Select the Detect Edges checkbox.
Brush the adjustment over the areas of the image you want to modify.
Tip: It’s a good idea to regularly zoom in to the image to ensure that the brush strokes cover the areas of the image you want to adjust.

The adjustment is applied to the portion of the image it was brushed on.
For information about modifying the effect of the adjustment after it has been brushed on the image, see Work with brush strokes.

Brush an adjustment away

Select a photo.
If the adjustment you want to apply to the image isn’t shown in the Adjustments inspector or the Adjustments pane of the Inspector HUD, choose the adjustment from the Add Adjustment pop-up menu.
Note: The Red Eye Correction, Spot & Patch, Straighten, Crop, Flip, White Balance, and Exposure adjustments cannot be brushed on images.
Specify parameter settings for the adjustment while viewing the effect on the image.
When the area of the image you want to adjust has the correct appearance, choose “Brush [adjustment] away” from the adjustment’s Action pop-up menu.
The pointer turns into a brush, and the Brush HUD for the adjustment appears. The adjustment remains applied to the entire image.
In the Brush HUD, specify the following settings:
- To adjust the size of the brush: Use the Brush Size parameter controls.
  Tip: Use the scroll gesture to quickly resize the brush as you work.
- To adjust the softness of the brush: Use the Softness parameter controls.
- To adjust the intensity of the brush: Use the Strength parameter controls.
- To specify that the adjustment detect edges in order to preserve detail: Select the Detect Edges checkbox.
Brush over the areas of the image you don’t want adjusted.
Tip: It’s a good idea to regularly zoom in to the image to ensure that the brush strokes cover the areas of the image you don’t want adjusted.

The adjustment is removed from the brushed areas of the image.
For information about modifying the effect of the adjustment after it has been brushed on the image, see Work with brush strokes.

Apply a brushed adjustment to the entire image

You can extend a brushed adjustment to cover the entire image rather than just the area you brushed over.

Select the photo with the adjustment you want applied to the entire image.
Select the brushed adjustment in the Adjustments inspector or the Adjustments pane of the Inspector HUD, and click the Brush button in the adjustment controls.
In the Brush HUD, choose “Apply to entire photo” from the Brush Action pop-up menu.

The brushed adjustment’s brush strokes are removed, and the adjustment is applied to the entire image.