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2. Basics of Image Processing

## 2.10 Dynamic Filters

You usually use adjustment layers (chapter 2.9) for lossless image editing in PhotoLine. Unfortunately, not all functions are available there.

As a substitute you can often use Dynamic Filters: When you apply a function that can not be used as an adjustment layer to a placeholder layer (chapter 2.3.7), the placeholder layer is not edited directly, but PhotoLine creates a child layer, that executes the function dynamically on the placeholder layer. So if you change the content of the placeholder layer later, the assigned dynamic filter is executed automatically. The content of this newly created layer is used as mask: white areas allow editing, black ones forbid it.

A Dynamic Filter layer can contain more than one function. To add a new function, you must activate the layer and simply apply another function on the layer. Using the Layer Attributes (chapter 4.11), you can change the order of the assigned functions or you can delete individual functions.

Dynamic Filters have an additional blend mode (Section 4.7): Replace. In this mode, the placeholder layer, which the dynamic filter is assigned to, will not be shown and only the result of the dynamic filter is visible. This is useful when the dynamic filter makes parts of the placeholder transparent.

Dynamic filters are very similar to smart filters, which you may know from other applications.

The mask of a Dynamic Filter can be blurred and inverted using the Layer Attributes (chapter 4.11).