Working Nondestructively

If you’ve been around the Photoshop world for even a short time, it’s likely that you’ve heard the term “nondestructive”—as in nondestructive workflow or working nondestructively. In principle, this means doing things in such that the result is not permanent—that is, destructive—so your work can still be edited in various ways. As we’ll see, there’s much more to working nondestructively than just the ability to change your mind.

The beauty of learning these smart, nondestructive techniques is that they can be applied in so many different ways. Whether you’re retouching a portrait, adjusting an image, or creating fine art, working smart can help you. The following key techniques—which you’ll find yourself using over and over again—form the basis of the nondestructive smart flow.