layer mask icon missing

[Darren Brothwell]

hi I trying to go through one of the tutorials and there is a stage where you have to use the "layer mask icon" in PS Elements 8, I can't find the icon on my panel can anyone help? yes I too am using elements8

[Darren Brothwell]

ok so I have just found out that the tutorial is using elements 9 not what I thought was 8. Ok so where do I find a similar tool in elements 8?

[OldBoy]

I don't use elements but if you type in Layered Mask into the help menu it should tell you.

[Cathus]

I don't use it either but I'm sure a guy who gave a talk on elements last week at the camera club said layer masks were introduced in elements 9, but I might be wrong.

[Ashleyj]

Originally Posted by Cathus

I don't use it either but I'm sure a guy who gave a talk on elements last week at the camera club said layer masks were introduced in elements 9, but I might be wrong.

I'm sure you are right about that. From what I remember prior to PSE9 you had to do some sort of fudge to create layer masks.

But a quick Google has come up with a free layer mask add-on for versions prior to 9.
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pse...ermasktool.htm

[Darren Brothwell]

Thanks for that works a charm!!

[daveclilverd]

Sounds like you've solved it already - but the 'trick' with earlier versions of Elements is to add an Adjustment layer (e.g. Levels) - which do have a layer mask associated with them. Just leave the adjustment alone (i.e. don't make any changes), but 'clip' the adjustment layer to the layer you want to apply the mask to and use the mask associated with the adjustment layer just as you would if it was for the image layer itself.
Hope that helps too.
Cheers,
Dave.