Layer Question

Ok, I'm try to redo one of my old sigs and add some better blending. There was some contrast in the background so it blended better and I'm trying to use that contrast with some brushing over the render but if I try to duplicate it and put it on top of the render it makes the whole sig have a higher contrast.

SO what I'm saying is, how to get my contrast to go on only one layer and that layer only?

Image -> Adjustments -> Brightness/Contrast

Just copy the settings of the brightness/contrast layer you have now into that. It affects only the layer you want it to and doesn't make a new layer entirely for brightness/contrast, however because of this I think the layer you are contrasting needs to be rasterized. You might want to make a "backup" of the original layer before you apply the brightness/contrast by duplicating it and then hiding it.

That was another method I was thinking of, which might be easier since you already have that brightness/contrast layer (I actually didn't know that shortcut was Ctrl+J XD). However, then if your layer is moved, the brightness/contrast won't move with it. It would be better practice to combine the brightness/contrast with the render accurately using the way I mentioned, also since loading the selection can occasionally create undesired effects.

For what you want though, it really shouldn't matter, so go with whatever sounds easiest. Good thinking Kirby.