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

Similar Messages

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.

Can't select or edit layer mask in CS5.1 extended

In our class, we have photoshop CS5 on MACs
I started a project in class which involves creating a layer mask. I was about done with the mask, but brought it home to finish. I opened the file on my WIN XP running photoshop CS5.1 extended, which I installed this morning. In class I was able to click on the mask to select it, then use the brush to edit the details, painting black or white as needed to refine the edge.
When I brought the .psd file home and opened it in the newer version of Photoshop, it won't allow me to select the mask for editing. I selected the layer then clicked on the mask thumbnail in the layer pallette but didn't see the corner outlines that usually show when the layer thumbnail is selected. When I tried brushing on what I thought was the mask (of the layer selected) I got the pink overlay as is usually seen in quickmask. (fore and background colors were black and white).
Does v5.1 behave differently with masks from v5.0? I didn't change any of the factory default settings and in class it is standard practice to reset to the default when we begin.
any ideas?

sweet. That did the trick Noel.
I didn't turn quickmask on. I just loaded the file from my flash drive and first thing I tried was to select the layer mask. I'll have to try another file to see if PS is starting in quickmask mode itself.
I had an inkling I was in quickmask mode from the pink painting, but hadn't selected it and didn't know about the q hotkey. newbie here just a few weeks into the intro course.
again, thanks for the fast reply. I just might be able to finish this assignment yet tonight.

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

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

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

Probelms with PS CS5 - Cant add a transparent gradient layer mask to a layer - please help

My company just upgraded us to cs5 on our macs. I was working along in photoshop & dont know if I hit something inadvertently or what but all of a sudden I cannot add a black to transp gradient to a layer mask. Ive searched around even saved out and re-loaded the gradients from my pc (which has the black to transparent gradient in the gradient editor & the process works fine).
Funny thing is that in the mac gradient picker, the black to transparent gradient is black and solid white but the name of it is 'black to transparent' in the editor. Ive tried
I guess my questions would be how would one make a transparent gradient, or how would one reset the gradients to default becuase every time i delete all the gradients the add a new .grd file from my pc, it still does not show the gradient.
Its amazing how such a small thing like this saves so much time and its eating me up that I cant get this to work
Thanks in advance, Mark

C:\Users\User\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS4\Adobe Photoshop CS4 Settings
This is where I finally found the prefs.psp file. At least this is the way my Vista machinie is set up. Your "User" config may be diferrent from mine.
But, Thanks for the right answer!. My transparent layer is now only showing the faint gray checkboard instead of black.
Rob_L

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

CS5 Layer Mask not working. Hide all not hiding

I need some help here. CS5 on win 7 64 bit. Duplicate layer and apply a layer mask (alt click) and it does not hide the layer. Just applying a mask and painting with black also does not hide. If I hide the background layer then the mask appears as the white and grey checkerboard pattern, no solid color. Am I missing something simple?
Thanks, Dave

The checkerboard indicates places where your entire document is transparent through and through.
I suspect your mask is working as it's supposed to, and that when the background layer is visible you're just seeing through to the duplicate layer below - which by definition will not look any different on your display.
Try this:
Add a brightly colored solid color fill layer just below the layer you're masking. Now see what the mask does to the upper layer.
-Noel

Fading A Drop Shadow - Missing 'Layer Mask Hides Effects' in CS5

I'm using CS5. I want to create a fading drop shadow on a shape/box. See the attached image below.
In Photoshop, this is easy by doing:
1) Create shape
2) Add layer mask to shape layer
3) Click gradient, set gradient to Multiply, and set gradient colors to white to black
4) Drag gradient where you want it on the shape. The drop shadow will actually bleed through the middle of the shape, and not just on the edges, which is unwanted.
5) Open up layer styles, under Blending Options, select Layer Mask Hides Effects and it will get rid of the drop shadow showing up in the middle of the shape and you will be left with perfect, faded drop shadow on the edges (see below for finished product).
Firework is missing step 5. There is no Blending Options and there is no Layer Mask Hides Effects. Or if there is, I have no found them. I am using CS5. Any ideas how to accomplish this in Fireworks?

Clone the shape. Change the color of the clone to gray and, in the properties panel, change its edge type to feather. With the clone still selected, choose Commands > Creative > Auto Vector Mask. Select the bottom, left mask type by clicking on its image, and then apply it. In the layers panel, click on the new mask group to select it. Click on the black masking object on the right of the two linked objects to activate the gradient adjustment handle. Shorten and rotate the gradient until you get the effect you want.

Cannot Apply Layer Mask in Photoshop CS6

First off, let me state that I am a *total* Ps newbie…My question regards the following: In Ps CS6, I cropped an area using the Marquee Tool. Then, I Added [a] Layer Mask from the Layers Panel. Next, I turned off the Indicates layer mask is linked to layer BUTTON, clicked the Smart Object Thumbnail, and moved the image using the Move Tool. Now, I right-clicked on the Layer Mask Thumbnail in order to Apply Layer Mask but it is de-highlighted. This is my problem. I cannot figure out how to Apply [the] Layer Mask. (I hope this all made sense.) Can someone please tell me how to do this in CS6? TY.

Thank you for the quick reply. I started the whole process over again and went through the same steps; and, I don't know if it shows up in the screen capture, but there is, indeed, a frame around the Layer Mask Icon when I right-click on it. The above pull-down menu is what I get when I right-click on it. (BTW, this is for a CS5 online course I'm taking, and this particular Lesson is called "Generating a Non-Destructive Crop." I'm having to figure some stuff out, since I have CS6...) I hope all that info helps.

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

Can't paint at full opacity in layer mask in CS6 64 bit windows 7

A problem has developed in my photoshop CS 6 64 bit on windows 7. I can't paint at full opacity in a layer mask. It is like an 75 % opacity brush. I have gone back to the default brushes soit is not the particular bursh. My brush settings are all at 100%, mask density is 100% , the blend mode is normal,-can't think of where else to look for the solution.The brush works just fine when I am not in a layer mask.
I updated the graphic card driver and also the wacom intuos driver. It has to be somewhere in photoshop CS6 as when I go into my older version photoshop, cs5, the mask opacity works works at 100 % opacity
Any ideas of what to do next.

I am having a similar problem that I need help with. I just loaded CS6 for the first time ever last week and have been tinkering around with photo editing. I am trying to use an action I downloaded to whiten the whites of the eyes and teeth. When I run the action I cannot paint with the soft white brush. I hit backslash and it shows no work completed, just a red background. I have everything selected at 100% opacity (brush and action layer).
A couple days ago I was able to use the brush tool to darken the background by loading an action and paiting on. Now I can't do that anymore.
I can use my brush for other tasks. I am so confused. I would greatly appreciate any insight.

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

Bonehead layer mask question: CS5

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