Basic Layer Mask Question

When making a selection and pasting into that selection, is the destination of the selected area technically a layer mask?
Thanks.

Technically, under the covers, Photoshop sometimes calls a selection a "selection mask". This terminology goes way back.
A plug-in, for example, receives whatever selection you have made (if it chooses to) as a "selection mask", while what the user sees as layer masks are actually received as "transparency layers". If there is a selection present, for example, the gFilterRecord->haveMask will be set to TRUE, and the plug-in uses the SetMaskRect() function to describe the pixels it wants to receive.
A selection is always 8 bit depth by the way, while transparency layers are the same bit depth as the color data.
This may help explain some confusion in terminology you may sometimes see.
-Noel

Similar Messages

Bonehead layer mask question: CS5

I am new to photoshop.
I am running PS CS5 on a Macbook Pro.
I have a document with two layers.
The top layer is a black & white adjustment layer with mask.
Opacity is set to 50%
The bottom layer is a colored background layer.
I don't know what the little square is called at the lower left of screen.
The background part is set to white and the foreground part is set to black.
When I select a brush and try to reveal some of the colored elements below nothing happens.
Do I need to activate any other settings to make this happen?

Good advice above, but one more thing (sorry for a very basic question): Have you targeted the mask? You have to click on it before you can paint on it.
Just reviewing... With your Opacity at 50% your image will still have some color, and painting black on the layer mask will hide the effects of the Black & White layer and reveal more color.
If you're still having trouble, please capture your entire screen, save as a JPEG, and post it here using the little "camera" icon just above the edit box. Usually people can home right in on what's wrong by seeing the various Photoshop indicators on the screen.
-Noel

Blending with a layer mask question

In CS5, I make a selection and copy it to a new layer and use the bloat tool to manipulate the layer, I then select the new layer mask with this new bloated layer and use the brush tool with the airbrush turned on to blend in this new layer with the original layer.
However, I am just not sure I understand what this is doing.
1. How is using the layer mask to blend it in different from just using ther eraser tool to erase parts of it?
Thanks.

I don't get the impression you fully understand the concept of the layer mask. Using a brush on the layer mask does nothing to the layer itself. Think of it like a window through which you see the layer. Paint part of the window black and you can't see the layer underneath. Scrape the paint off, and voila. You now see again what was there.

Blurring layer mask question

I have been trying to figure out for a long time what is going on here, and am stumped.
I have a dark and light layer from the same RAW image. The dark layer is on top.
I create a luminosity mask (Cmd-Opt-click RGB channel) from the light image.
I apply the selection as a layer mask to the top, dark layer.
The detail is bad, looking, maybe, posterized. The image does have lots of fine detail.
When I blur the layer mask, about 40, the image looks great.
****What does the blurring of the layer mask do, to bring out the detail of the image?**** I use layer masks often, and don't usually have to blur to see detail.
I tried to attach/insert a small crop with the 2 layers and mask for you to see, under 2 mb, but the content is not allowed. Hopefully my description will make it easy for you experts.
Thanks for any possble help,
Sonny

Hopefully this will work. Here is the link to the file, including the 2 layers, and layer mask, cropped.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1660216/maskBlur.psd
To summarize, why is it necessary to blur the layer mask ( ~40) in order to see detail?
The mask is a luminosity mask (Cmd-Opt-click RGB channel) created from the light layer, and then applied to the dark layer.
As I mentioned originally, I use layer masks often, and don't have to blur the mask, unless I want a special effect. It seems that whenever I blend this way, with a luminosity mask, the mask has to be blurred.
Correction from original post: each layer is a separate camera exposure, then processed in Lightroom.
Thanks,
Sonny

Layer Mask Question

Hi everyone, this is my first time posting, sorry. I am new
to Flash, but I've got a general knowledge of it to help me discuss
this question.
I am trying to build a site that has a homepage with some
images on it. The basic format of the site is broken into a grid.
It is 5x9. It is basically a graphic over the top of the
background. From this home page there are 3 buttons at the bottom.
What I want to happen is when one of the buttons is clicked the
homepage background image, or whatever is in the background, stays
there and the information that the button is calling up to dissolve
one square at a time, or in a combination, to give a nice
dissolve/transition to the next set of information.
What I've tried doing:
I started another scene, which is the contents of the page
after the first button is pressed. My layer stack from bottom to
top is, a copy of the background image and grid from the homepage,
then a new layer that is masked. On the layer is an image with all
the information I want to show after the wipe. So on the mask layer
I have 45 boxes. Each box is set to a zero alpha. As the keyframes
go thru the time line certain sets of boxes are put up to 100%
alpha, and have a white color. But what I'm getting is the
background image is static, and then the white boxes just pop the
masked layer in below. There is no dissolve or anything.
This is probably the wrong way to attack this problem but
with my limited knowledge it is the only thing I could think of.
Does anyone have any ideas on how I could achieve this effect?
Thank you!

Yes, as Michael pointed it to you, you are seeing your edit below the arm layer, and Photoshop processes layer from top to bottom.
See these documents:
http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=426625
http://www.photoshopcafe.com/tutorials/layers/intro.htm
See also all these Key concepts: http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/keyconcepts/articles/concept_index.html

Layer Mask blur question

I hope that I can present this question clearly. I process 2 images from a single RAW, a light and a dark layer, the dark on top. I create a luminosity mask from the light image, and then from that selection I create a Layer Mask on the dark image.
1) Why does the resulting composite have strange colors, like a bad Curve (where it goes up to the right, and then goes down before continuing back up to the right)?
2) Why is there marked improvement with a Gaussian Blur of 40 to the mask?
3) When I paint on the mask in mid-gray, that section similarly improves (that would be the same as 2, ie, a homogeneous gray like a blur, but focal in this case with the brush).
What does the Blur actually do to improve the blending? I'm sure it has to do with how the pixels are blending without the blur, but I cannot seem to understand what's going on.
The images are in perfect registration.
Thanks very much,
Sonny

I figured it out. Thanks
Sonny

Basic masking question

In AE is it possible to mask one layer with the one above it (ala Illustrator)? I'm aware of the in-layer masking capabilities of AE.
thanks, captain video

Track Mattes.

Layer Mask not revealing the right colors

Hi I am new to Photoshop CS6, and photoshop in general. I am trying to take a color photograph, turn it to black and white, and reveal a flower in color and the rest is still black and white.
I thought I had done this properly when I added a new "adjustment layer, hue/saturation", reduced saturization to zero, and painted the yellow flower over with black to reveal the yellow flower's color while the rest of the photo is still black and white. And it worked..except when I got to the green stem of the flower. Painting over that with black revealed a yellowish-green stem.
I experimented a little more by painting black on the new layer mask and most of the rest of the color photo comes out wrong. The blue sky shows up like a weird smurf blue, faces are oddly peach/orange and most colors look much different than the originial photo. Yellow seems to be not affected, magenta/pink seems to be OK and blue shows up so-so. But the rest of the colors are messed up.
I know this must be something very basic, but why are the colors showing up odd?
Thanks

Sounds like you did the right stuff. You should expect to see the colors revealed where the mask is made black. I might have used a Black & White adjustment layer rather than Hue/Saturation, as that would give you more control over the grayscale part of the result, but the technique with the mask should be the same.
Any chance you could take a snapshot of your screen, save as a JPEG, and paste it here? That will help avoid a whole lot of questions.
I noticed your screen name... I live in "bokeh". The weather has turned nice down here after Sandy passed by, eh?
-Noel

Help with Photoshop CS2 files MUCH larger than normal, possibly not compessing layer masks

Has anyone else come across a problem where Photoshop files grow in size much faster than expected, especially when adding layer masks?
Normally when you add a layer mask the file size grow a small amount if the layer mask is mostly all white or mostly all black. In this case it's like the file size is growing exponentially, almost as if the layer mask isn't being compressed at all.
The file in question although large, is similar dimensions, resolution, and number of layers as other projects that have been worked on and all the usual thing have been checked like resolution, colour mode, bit depth and the image has also been cropped so there's nothing outside of the page.
The file has been checked on 2 different macs and exhibits the same behaviour and Photoshop preferences have been deleted and re-created and we've tried copying the file by dragging layers to a new document of the same dimensions with no success.
The only things we're certain of is that file size grows dramatically when adding layer masks in particular and layers in general.
The file was created by someone else, if that might be a factor, though the file has been "saved as.." with no improvement.
Any ideas?
TIA
Tom
The only

Maybe it has something to do with "Maximize Compatibility". If that's checked when you save, it might add a lot of weight to your file, even with just a simple layer mask. Don't know, haven't done any testing, just a thought.
Edit: Just did a quick test:
1. flat image saved as PSD = 5.2 MB
2. same image converted to a layer with simple layer mask, saved as PSD = 5.8 MB
3. same layer mask image saved WITH "maximize compatibility" = 10.7 MB
So adding "maximize compatibility" nearly doubled this test file. Could be it?

How do I add a gradient to a layer mask to counteract a gradual change in tone from one end of a photo to the other?

I swear I must be going nutso. I have a photo taken with a rather extreme 10mm shift of a shift lens, which consequently has a gradual darkening toward the top of the photo. No problem, says I. I just added a layer mask, clicked on the gradient tool and drew a line (in the appropriate direction) with that tool. What I got was a transparent area at the black end (of the gradient applied to the mask) grading to the darker part of the image showing through at the other end (of the gradient.)
I've done this before, and did the above instinctively, so I thought I was doing it right. When it didn't work, I tried applying the mask and gradient to a duplicate background layer, then flattening the image. Nada.
Jees. Something set wrong? A different blend mode than normal? I even checked with a CS6 guide by Martin Evening, who seems to be able to do exactly what I wanted with no trouble.
Or......maybe I am going nutso :).
Thanks in advance,
BAB

Thanks, that's exactly what I've done.....now I'm at least certain I'm not going nutso . Specifically, I have image 2 stacked above image 1, with the mask for image 2 appearing on the same layer. However, when I apply the gradient, exactly as you have indicated, I do not get image 4. Instead I get image 2 showing through at the top where the mask is white, and then a gradual fade over the black part of the mask to the diamond pattern typical of transparent layer.
Well, I be darned. I just tried it again and now it's working exactly as you described and exactly as I had expected it to. I was using a .psd and wondered if that were the problem, although why I couldn't imagine. So chose a .dng I had just downloaded and the process worked perfectly. Huh? So I went back to the .psd (a test image that I had done to see how much falloff there would be using this shift lens at it's fullest shift) and it worked perfectly also. I have no idea. I promise you I did exactly as you indicated above in all the times I tried to get the falloff subdued. Yes, I did the mask in the right direction, as you've shown above. Yes I used a duplicate layer, and yes I applied the mask to the duplicate layer. I can even get it to work using the mask applied by the Curves layer I used to lighten the duplicate layer. If you can think of anything that may have been set wrong, please let me know, because I think I checked everything including layer properties and those of the gradient tool as well. And I'm certain it will happen again when I'm on some deadline and really need the gradient. You know about Murphy's Laws, right?
Thanks, though. I'll mark this question answered and if I find something I set wrong, on purpose or accidentally, I'll pass it along.
BAB

How do I add a second layer mask to turn more areas transparent?

I can't get this to work, and I haven't been able to find a post specifically for this question. I applied a layer mask to a photograph to take out part of the background, that is, make it transparent. I would like to add several more masks to make more areas transparent. But when I add a second mask, it hides the first one, and the first one hides it. If I turn off either level, and I can see the transparent portion for the other level, but when both layers are visible, all of the transparent sections are covered.
It seems to be there ought to be a simple way to do this. Perhaps it is possible to combine all the selected transparency layers into one mask?
Thanks for any help you can give.
Best -- Cat

Thanks, Scott! I'm not exactly sure how to use groups, but this is a good reason to figure it out.
I also figured out a kludgy way to do it. I make transparent the part of one layer that is blocking the transparency of the others. As long as I don't have a lot of layers do to that way, it works okay. It's a pain, though.
Thanks for the help!
best -- Cat

Photoshop Elements 6: Hue/Saturation as a basic layer?

When creating a hue/saturation layer in Photoshop Elements 6, is it possible to have it act as a basic layer, adding and removing from the selection, rather than a mask layer?

The simple method is to place your selection on a separate layer and clip the hue/saturation mask to it.
In this example I selected the sky and pushed up the saturation to really exaggerate the blue color.
Click to view
1. Make your selection
2. Press Ctrl+J to place it on its own layer
3. Add new adjustment layer (hue/saturation) and click OK to close the dialog
4. Hover your mouse over the dividing line between the adjustment layer and selection layer whilst holding down the alt key. Click when you see two small connecting circle appear. A downward pointing arrow will appear to show the adjustment layer is clipped to the selection layer.
5. Double click the thumbnail icon on the adjustment layer (not the white mask thumbnail) and that will bring back the dialog box.
6. Now use the sliders to make your selective adjustments.

Why use layer masks and adjustment layers?

I've been using PSE and CS successfully for years.
One thing I have never understood is: why use layer masks and adjustment layers, instead of simply creating a copy of the subject layer (the one I want to make changes to) and experimenting with that? It's quick (Ctrl-J), I can do it as many times as I want, I'm not affecting my Background layer. If I like the changes, I can keep them. I can switch the copy on and off to compare with the Background layer. I can do any type of blend or combination I desire. I can insert Gradient layer(s), select any part of the copy and (Ctrl-J) create a new layer containing only the selected part. I can adjust size, rotate, do anything.
It almost seems that "layer mask" and "adjustment layer" are mainly another layer of terminology; can anyone explain (preferably in 50 words or less) how they are intrinsically different from or superior to working with copies of the Background layer? What can be done with them that can't be done simply using copies of the Background layer?

Here's a very basic example of the advantage of using a layer mask.
I have this picture of a sunflower and I want to convert the background to black & white, leaving just the flower in color. I duplicated the Background layer, converted it to B&W and proceeded to use the Eraser to uncover the flower color. But I made a mistake and erased outside the flower. There is no way to correct this other than deleting the layer and starting again.
Now let's use a layer mask on the B&W layer. Set the Foreground/Background colors to the defaults black/white. Using the Brush tool paint on the mask with black to reveal the color. Here I painted too far, revealing a green leaf in the background. No need to start over. Simply switch to white and paint the excess to convert back to the B&W.
Tip: while painting you can type "X" to toggle between black and white.
You could also select the flower using the various selection tools and then fill the selection with black. If it turns out the selection was not 100% accurate you can then fine-tune the result by painting on the mask with black or white as necessary.

How to zoom in a Layer Mask

Hello,
I'm editing a video with Photoshop CS6 and basically I made a heart shaped Mask and inside it a still frame zooms in as the video progresses. But I need the Mask to expand as well, to zoom in as the still zooms in.
Using Layer Mask Position I can only move the mask around, but not transform it. Please help!

Hi there
Are you trying to have the frame AND the mask resize together? If you can, please post a screenshot of your layers panel. Also, what version of Photoshop are you using?
To resize the mask and the image together, make sure that the layer and the mask are locked, as shown below.
By locking the layer and the mask, you will be able to resize the two simultaneously. Go to Edit > Transform > Scale, or hit control/command T on your keyboard.
If you unlock the layer and the mask, you will be able to move and resize the mask independently of your image. So this might be helpful if you're trying to make the mask zoom out, while the image inside remains the same.
If this is not what you're trying to do, please don't hesitate to reply! And again, a screenshot of your layers panel, or an example of what you're trying to accomplish would help

Can anybody say why In the layer menu the background color is white when opening a layer mask, and why does it automatically turns black by simply opening the layer mask properties menu? The vector mask is white anyway.

Can anybody say why In the layer menu, the background color is white when opening a layer mask, and why does it automatically turns black by simply opening the layer mask properties menu? The vector mask is white anyway.

Topic or subject titles should be clear, pertinent and concise so that individual users can tell at a glance if they can help or not.
That field is not for attempting to fit your entire question in there.
Please keep this in mind next time you post. Thank you.
A lot more information about your hardware and software is needed.
BOILERPLATE TEXT:
If you give complete and detailed information about your setup and the issue at hand,
such as your platform (Mac or Win),
exact versions of your OS, of Photoshop (not just "CC", but something like CC2014.v.2.2) and of Bridge,
your settings in Photoshop > Preference > Performance
the type of file you were working on,
machine specs, such as total installed RAM, scratch file HDs, total available HD space, video card specs, including total VRAM installed,
what troubleshooting steps you have taken so far,
what error message(s) you receive,
if having issues opening raw files also the exact camera make and model that generated them,
if you're having printing issues, indicate the exact make and model of your printer, paper size, image dimensions in pixels (so many pixels wide by so many pixels high). if going through a RIP, specify that too.
a screen shot of your settings or of the image could be very helpful too,
etc.,
someone may be able to help you (not necessarily this poster, who is not a Windows user).
Please read this FAQ for advice on how to ask your questions correctly for quicker and better answers:
http://forums.adobe.com/thread/419981?tstart=0
Thanks!

Basic Layer Mask Question

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for