Photoshop Elements / Layers /
Separate RGB Channel Layers /
5 - Recombine RGB Channel Layers to Color
Use this section to recombine the separate RGB channel layers
back into a color photograph.
For example, you may have separated out the blue channel in order
to reduce noise.
You now have to recombine the blue channel layer with the other
channel layers.
Be sure to check off as you go along.
Note
You'll still be able to access the separate color channels.
Arrange Layer Stack
From the top down, the layers should be arranged in the following
order: Red, Green, Blue, and Background.
Block the Background Layer
1) Select the Background layer.
2) Create a blank layer by clicking the Create a new layer icon
at the top of the Layers palette.
3) Make sure the foreground color is set to black.
Press x to cycle between the foreground and background colors.
If the colors are not black and white, press d.
4) Fill the layer with black.
Go to Edit > Fill Layer.
In the Fill Layer window, do the following.
a) In the Contents box, select Foreground Color.
b) In the Mode box, select Normal.
c) In the Opacity box, select 100%.
5) Rename the layer as Block the Background.
Recombine the Blue Channel Layer
1) Deselect the Eye icons in the Red and Green layers.
2) Select the Blue layer.
3) Change the blending mode of the Blue layer from Normal to
Screen.
Mode is located at the top of the Layers palette.
4) Make sure the Blue layer is active (highlighted).
5) Create a fill layer.
Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color.
a) Select Group with Previous Layer
b) In the Mode box, select Multiply.
c) In the Opacity box, select 100%.
Click OK.
The Color Picker window will open.
Change the color to blue.
Enter 0 in the R: box, 0 in the G: box, and 255 in the B: box.
Click OK.
Recombine the Green Channel Layer
1) Select the Green layer.
2) Change the blending mode of the Green layer from Normal to
Screen.
3) Make sure the Green layer is active (highlighted).
4) Create a fill layer.
Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color.
a) Select Group with Previous Layer
b) In the Mode box, select Multiply.
c) In the Opacity box, select 100%.
Click OK.
The Color Picker window will open.
Change the color to green.
Enter 0 in the R: box, 255 in the G: box, and 0 in the B: box.
Click OK.
Recombine the Red Channel Layer
1) Select the Red layer.
2) Change the blending mode of the Red layer from Normal to Screen.
3) Make sure the Red layer is active (highlighted).
4) Create a fill layer.
Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color.
a) Select Group with Previous Layer
b) In the Mode box, select Multiply.
c) In the Opacity box, select 100%.
Click OK.
The Color Picker window will open.
Change the color to blue.
Enter 255 in the R: box, 0 in the G: box, and 0 in the B: box.
Click OK.
Finished
You're finished.
If you need to make a change to one of the channel layers, do
the following.
1) Ungroup the channel layer from its fill layer.
2) Make the change.
3) If you use an adjustment layer to make the change, group the
adjustment layer with the channel layer.
4) Group the fill layer with the channel layer.
If you haven't already done so, go to
Grouping.
