Add layer mask.
 

Hi all, New here but have subscribed to PhotoPlus [Canon] for several years. Using PSE8 I have run into a small problem. In issue 60 there is a skills lesson 'Combine separate exposures' where in step 5 it mentions click the ADD LAYER MASK icon at the bottom of the LAYERS palette. For the devil in me I can`t find it but it is required to run a gradient in it. Could someone please help as I`m new to gradients.
Cheers
lanicarl

Up to version 8, PS Elements didn't have Layer Masks of their own. Two ways round this.....

a. a slightly complicated method of making an Adjustment Layer (which has its own Mask) and placing it in the right position to act as a Layer Mask...... e.g. Duplicate your image layer; then go back to the Background 'layer' and make a Levels Adjustment Layer - but make no adjustments. So you have, top to bottom, a duplicate, a Levels Adjustment Layer and the Background Layer. Highlight the Levels layer, hold down the Alt button and hover your mouse between the Levels layer and the duplicate image layer above it. The pointer will change to a chain link. Click your mouse. You have now 'clipped' the Levels Adjustment Layer (and, more importantly, its Layer Mask) to the Duplicate image. Whatever you do in the top layer can now be masked (by painting with black) in the Mask (when the mask box is highlighted and you paint on the main image window).

b. Download a Layer Mask Action - [URL="http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pselements/qt/layermasktool.htm"]e.g. from here[/URL] - follow the installation instructions carefully. You can then activate a Layer Mask on any layer you want, easy peasy.

I answered this earlier - the Moderator apparently needs to vet it first! Don't think I'll bother again.

It appears that Elements does not support layer masks directly - there is no layer mask icon.

But the good news is that it can be faked by using a new adjustment layer that comes with a layer mask already in place.

See here - [URL="http://www.photoshopessentials.com/basics/elements/fake-layer-mask/"]http://www.photoshopessentials.com/basics/elements/fake-layer-mask/[/URL]

For some reason, my previous reply got lost with a moderator.......... so I'll give it again.

Elements, up to version 8, did not have its own Layer Mask feature. It came in with Version 9. (Actually it DID have a layer mask but it was a 'hidden' feature..... it could be called by an Action - which has to be created in full Photoshop). There were two solutions for this.....

As Ashleyj says, an Adjustment Layer's Mask works. For example, duplicate your Background image (or the last image layer at the top of the layers palette). Go back to the background and now run an Adjustment Layer (something like Levels works fine) but make no adjustments with it - just OK it. So now you have a stack with (at least) Background, Adjustment Layer and Duplicate (bottom to top). Hold down the Alt button and hover the mouse around the line between top and middle layers..... the pointer becomes a chain symbol. Click and you'll find that you've now 'clipped' the Adjustment Layer to the top (Duplicate) layer. Now activate the top layer and make your own alterations to it. The Mask box in the middle is working on it, so click in that box. With the default colours in the foreground/background paint palettes (press D for default Black and White), paint black over the image where you want to see through the top layer down to the Background - white to reverse it. You can use a Brush (checking the opacity, size and softness), or the Gradient, or Paint pot.

The quicker alternative is to download one of the many free 'Actions' for Layer Masks - this will then appear in the Effects palette and can be used at any time by double clicking there to put it into the active layer. Once there, use it in the same way as above with Brushes, Gradients etc. Check, [URL="http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pselements/qt/layermasktool.htm"]for example, this one[/URL]. Make sure you follow the installation instructions to the letter.

Well I did just bother again....... and it's again gone to this mystery moderator! I just spent 15 minutes over a long and comprehensive answer and it may have gone the way of the last one I posted - and yet that one liner I posted above was accepted immediately. After 1,243 posts I'd have thought there wouldn't be a problem......... so I think you've lost me as a contributor if it doesn't appear in the next few hours.

in pse 8 you have to go to layer>new adjustments layer>levels. drag the adjustment layer below the layer you want to attach a layer mask to, click the image layer then go to layer>createclippingmask

pse 9and above you can just add a layer mask

[QUOTE=GeoffWessex;78349]Well I did just bother again....... and it's again gone to this mystery moderator! I just spent 15 minutes over a long and comprehensive answer and it may have gone the way of the last one I posted - and yet that one liner I posted above was accepted immediately. After 1,243 posts I'd have thought there wouldn't be a problem......... so I think you've lost me as a contributor if it doesn't appear in the next few hours.[/QUOTE]


Stick with it Geoff , I have heard other people talking about this issue and I think that some web links can cause it , I don't know if you used any links in your response but I for one think that your detailed comments are too helpful to be lost so I hope that the powers that be are listening and sort in out soon .

Mark

PS

Sorry Ianicarl I don't have elements and I'm afraid I can't help you , fingers crossed that Geoff's response come through .

Thanks Mark - in the meantime, I'll try a shorter version..........
You're right - Elements up to version 8 did not have a layer mask (in fact it did, but it was a 'hidden' feature - people writing Actions in Photoshop could actually 'call up' the layer mask in Elements with not problem.... excuse the cynicism but it appears to be Adobe way of marketing - "don't re-design it, just hide stuff - that'll make them buy full Photoshop").

There are still two ways to use a Layer Mask in Elements up to and including version 8...... A 'clipping mask' is a simple one. Create a duplicate layer of the Background, or whatever is the 'base' version. Go back to the Background and create an Adjustment Layer (Levels is easiest) - do not make any adjustments, just OK it. Press the Alt button (or the equivalent on a Mac) and hover the mouse around the line in the Layers Palette between the top (duplicate) layer and the Adjustment Layer - the pointer will turn into a chain link. Click the mouse - you will have created a 'clipped mask'. For your purposes, you can treat the Layer Mask Box in the Adjustment Layer as your Layer Mask - try it out, like turn the top layer black and white or give it some blur. Now click on the Layer Mask box to activate it (it will get a double border) and hit D to get the default black and white in the colour palette (foreground and background colours). Using a Brush, paint in black over the main image in the editing window. You will notice that it will remove the b&w or blur that you added. The technique includes changing brush sizes (you can hit the ( or ) on the fly to resize), select - in most cases - a soft-edged brush and turn the opacity of the brush (not the layer) down to perhaps 50%. You can do stylistic work with Gradient and other tools, while the layer mask is 'active'. Done too much? OK, switch over to white to return things gradually to their original (blurred/b&w state). Hard-edged brushes are good for following lines etc. Practice!

Alternatively, go to Google and search for "Photoshop Elements Free Layer Mask". You should find several but the clearest (and with the best instructions) is probably the 'Graphicssoft' page. Follow the installation instructions carefully. The layer mask will appear (after a restart of Elements) as an Action, in your Effects palette..... just double click the icon while the layer you want to mask in 'active'.

Right, I'm copying this to a Notepad file, just in case it gets wiped out again.


[B]Edit - Odd - it appears ok this time - perhaps we're not supposed to put links in Forum posts - now that [I][U]would[/U][/I] be daft![/B]

Hi Geoff and Others,
Thank you for your replies and I apoligise for not replying sooner. I started to explore your suggestions then went on holiday in the South Island where my wife brought me Elements 10 so the problem was solved. While trying out your suggestions I did learn some things about Elements that I would not probably have otherwise learnt so I thank you for that and Geoff I hope your posting problems are sorted out.
Cheers
Bob.