Creating a Mask and Refining

Ok..
so I'm following along in the Adobe "Classroom in a Book" and when I use the refine radius brush to refine the mask edge, the area I paint over is "washed out." Then when use the erase refinement tool, it erases ok, until I release the mouse. Then the erased area returns. What am I doing wrong? Please help.

There is no wrong.
the brush and the eraser are used to add or remove the edge that you selected at the first time
this feature give you several methods to define a new edge by using different background to compare the edge you wish to have

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AE in 32 bits mode, masks and banding

hi, im doing an AE CS4 project in 32 bits, i create a mask and with all levels of feathering and expansion i can see banding so clearly, i thought 32 bits would solve the banding issues, i see this with all examples, say that i put a black solid over a clip and i mask it with an oval to create a vignete, i use feathering and expansion where necessary, but still in 32 bits mode i can see clearly banding, of course with the add grain filter i can get rid of it, but i add also noise; am i doing something wrong, is it possible that in 32 bits mode banding still happens? there is non way to avoid it?
thank u so much for any help
jav

really this seems now to be a generic issue of after effects, photoshop etc, lets write the facts
1) im testing with two computers, a good laptop and a good desktop, both new , powerful, both with NVIDIA graphic cards which i guess are supposed to be good graphic cards
2) im using the latest software, photoshop CS4 and AE CS4
3) im trying all this in 32 bits in both and in the other modes later also
4) i am switching off opengl as for the suggestions i receive, and also im seeing all at full resolution
so given all that written above, now we go to photoshop, create a new file say 1920x1080, take a greyscale gradient with the gradient tool and put it on a new layer,
and there it is, the banding! ))
so either there is something really wrong in my setup, or this is a generic problem
i thought it could be my video hardware, but how could this be, both my control panel settings of both computers are set to highest color depth 32 bits, and both have NVIDIA graphic cards, and both are a year old or the desktop a month old, i mean it cannot get much more recent, certainly its not the best hardware around thats for sure, but really i think it should be enough to display an smooth gradient i would hope
i have known about the technique to use Add Noise for a long time to get rid of banding but i didnt remember that banding would happen so easily in a simple gradient or in a simple mask even at 32 bits, this is what puzzles me, i thought the whole point of 32 bits is that these things like this type of banding wouldnt happen
thank u for any help
by the way ,searching around online i have seen so many threads of people complaining about banding,
is Adobe addressing somewhere what seems to be a generic concern about Banding, maybe with a nice article explaining the reasons, causes, and solutions for banding that u may still get in 32 bits etc? that would be very nice
thank u again
jav

Alt key switching documents instead of Creating Clipping Mask - New Mac Pro 2014 - Please help

I just got a new Mac Pro, and when I use the alt/option key as a shortcut in the layers palette (to create clipping masks and duplicate layers) instead it switches to other documents that I have open. It's only after this happened that I realized how often I use the option key in my work flow and it's frustrating.
Please help,
Thanks,
Lonno

Just solved it. It had to do with my secondary monitor, which is where my layers palette was. I used this link:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5476222?tstart=0
and turned off all the mission control settings I don't use. Apparently it was switching monitors whenever I used the alt key.
-Lonno

After creating a mask on a pixel layer and then throwing it away, the pixels disapper

If I create a mask on a pixel layer and then throw the mask away, the pixels under the old black mask disappear. Help! How do I fix this? I have already reset preferences. I am using the most current version of Photoshop CC 2014 on a Mac with OS 10.9.5

Or just leave the layer mask in place. It's a valuable recourse that you might need to use again. The layer mask exists as an alpha channel. It's there in the Channels panel when you click on the layer that contains the layer mask. You might want to restrict an adjustment layer to the same area, or the inverse of that area. It's not always convenient to do that by clipping — you might be targeting a layer way up the stack.
OK, you can Ctrl click the layer if you removed the mask by Applying it, but it feels just plain wrong to me to throw a hard won selection in the dustbin.

Problems with animated masks and external images

I have an instance of a movieClip on the stage and I load an external JPG into the movieClip. The movieClip is masked by a layer that begins animating on a certain frame. As soon as I reach that frame my externally loaded JPG disappears. The movieClip doesn't mind being masked, but as soon as the mask animates the external image goes away. The mask animation is shapes drawn frame by frame.
It is interesting to note that if I create a Class and load the JPG into the movieClip (or do this in a constructor) I do not experience this problem - it is when the JPGs are loaded into an instance of the movieClip that lives on the stage that I encounter this. Unfortunately that is not an option in my project (since I have to get the path for the JPG from an xml file I am loading).
Could someone please help me with this?

that's a flash bug.

How to create a mask on individual frames of a video in Photoshop CS5 extended

I am working on a video piece and I need to mask out a moving figure throughout the entire video, what is the best way to to this? I know that I can import the video frames to layers in CS3 and then create a mask on each frame, but there are thousands of frames - and when I render the video from the animation it is slow to run in quicktime. Even if I were able to edit each frame, it seems like there should be a better way... I'm not terribly familiar with using Photoshop to edit video, maybe there is another program that would do what I want in a better way?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

This sounds like something Adobe Edge would be perfect for if it would just support video importing.
I created a mask over a video in Flash, but I had to convert the background video (which is masked) from mov to flv. Then you import it into Flash and stick the transparent PNG on a top layer for a mask. You can also animate the mask in Flash somewhat... more so if it's a vector object.
Result: Http://www2.avatarix.com/manatee
I would prefer to do this in HTML5 though... which is what Adobe Edge is for. But I can't figure out how to import video into Edge. I've tried 5 different video formats... webm, ogv, mp4, mov and flv.
Hoping this will be a feature when it's finally out in the market.
The struggle continues.

Is it possible to restrict the user from creating a sibling and allow him to ONLY create child nodes in DRM?

When in a hierarchy, a user right clicks on a node to crate a new node, he has two options
-Child
-Sibling
Is it possible to restrict the user from creating a sibling and allow him to ONLY create child nodes?
Business cases:
1. different level nodes need to have different prefixes.
- Thus, the default prefix property definition uses the level number to assign a prefix
- Also, a validation, to ensure the correct prefix, uses the level number
But if the user can create a child and a sibling then the default prefix will only be right for a single case and not both.
Thanks

If the images are exactly the same size then make sure the layer with the mask
is the active layer and in the other documents go to Select>Load Selection and choose
your document with the layer mask under Source document and under channel choose the layer mask.
After the selection loads press the layer mask icon at the bottom of the layers panel.
MTSTUNER

Problems with creating a mask in AE 4.1

Hi all,
Yes, I'm using After Effects 4.1... not CS4... that's version 4.1 from 13 years ago.
I'm having a problem creating a simple mask and I can see from a more current AECS5 tutorial that creating a mask on a layer is similar to creating one in AE4 based on a comparison to an old AE4 tutorial. I've read instructional material and it seems simple enough, but for some reason its not working for me... I know I'm doing something wrong. I'm an advanced Photoshop user and I know the concept of layer masks and how to create them.
I create the mask on a layer and I can see and adjust the bezier points to adjust the shape of the mask... adjusting the shape of the mask by the bezier points is a little tricky since it stretches in both directions when you grab a single point, but that's okay,
But no matter which mask mode I try, Add, Subtract, Intersect, Lighten, Darken or Difference, it is not masking the layer that it is attached to even when I preview the timeline.
I don't want to just create a color layer on top of the layer I want masked to simulate a mask (which I can otherwise do) because I want to stack layers with masks and have the unmasked parts showing through (like in Photoshop), without rendering separate layers and re-importing them with blue screening or black screening... I should just be able to mask the parts that I don't want to show up on each layer and only have the unmasked parts of each layer show through each other for my final render.
Thanks for any input,
digi

Thanks for writing back Dave and Rick,
I think there is something in what Dave said about opening a new layer window, but it still isn't working right. Please see the screenshot of two full project windows below.
One thing that could be giving me problems is my layer content... it is a numbers layer attached to a solid layer, as you can see.
In the comp window at the top of each screenshot below, you can see the bezier points from my original mask that I created by clicking on 'Shape' next to 'Mask' on the left in the timeline window after selecting 'Layer>Mask>New Mask'... but I can see that this isn't the right way to do it because (1) it isn't masking, it only shows bezier points. (2) When I try to adjust those bezier points in the comp window it only stretches the numbers. And (3) when I'm in the comp window, I don't have access to the layer shape square and oval tools... they are grayed-out.
So in the layer window after double-clicking on my numbers layer, in screen #2 below, you can see that it isn't showing anything... just black, but you can see the bezier points from my original masking attempt that also show up in the comp window. But in that layer window I do have the square and oval tools available to me and you can see that I tried creating a new experiment with a triangle mask, but that only shows bezier points and no masking effect. When I close that window, as Dave said, after making the new triangle mask, it only broadens out my original mask besizer points in the comp window to encompass both masks now, but does not reflect either masks actual shape, nor is it actually masking anything.
Let me know what you think.
Thanks again,
digi

How do I create a mask in Premiere Pro?

I am using Adobe Premiere Pro CS 5.5, on a late 2013 iMac. I would like to create a mask around a character in my video so I can put her on top of other videos (making the background for the video she's in transparent/invisible). I have seen tons of videos about making a mask, but it is just for text and isn't what I need since I need the character to move. Any tips?

LJO,
If you go the After Effects program, this RotoBrush AdobeTV tutorial will be useful. http://tv.adobe.com/watch/learn-after-effects-cc/using-the-roto-brush/
Good luck,
Hunt

How to create gradient mask in CS3 ?

Is it possible to create gradient mask without programming?
It is important
that Flash document must be created in version 9 and AS3. I
tried to use
blend modes alpha/erase but they makes object invisible
(cache as bitmap was
on and off - every combination of 2 used objects).
Flash document used for test cosist of 2 MCs:
- top layer: contains MC with filled by gradient rectangle.
First color is
black with alpha 100%, second color is black with alpha 0%.
- bottom layer: MC containing photo
I want object on top layer to be a gradient mask.

Is it possible to create gradient mask without programming?
It is important
that Flash document must be created in version 9 and AS3. I
tried to use
blend modes alpha/erase but they makes object invisible
(cache as bitmap was
on and off - every combination of 2 used objects).
Flash document used for test cosist of 2 MCs:
- top layer: contains MC with filled by gradient rectangle.
First color is
black with alpha 100%, second color is black with alpha 0%.
- bottom layer: MC containing photo
I want object on top layer to be a gradient mask.

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 can i create a mask of grays?

Hi
i did learn how create a saturation mask (a mask that contains the colors)
how can i create a mask with the grays ?
can i do it? how can i create it ?
the only way i can thing it's use a color selective adjustament layer and set to +100 black every sliders outside grays
but i don't think it's a mask with all the Grays
thanks

If you start out with, say, this image in Lab:
Then duplicate the layer and set Blend If, in both the a and b channels, to 123 - 133. That layer will then look like this:
You see you have all the neutrals from black to white, but not the saturated colors. You can load transparency here as a selection the normal way - ctrl+alt+2, or ctrl-click the L channel. Save the selection and you have your mask.
How much fuzziness you want in the neutrals is determined by where you set the Blend If sliders. You can also split the sliders with the alt key for a softer transition. Here it includes 5 values either side of strict neutral.

PSE 5--what is a clipping mask and how does it work?

Can anyone explain what a clipping mask is, how it works, and most importantly if Photoshop Elements 5.0 has this capability?
Also, are there any tutorials out there that I can teach myself on this topic? I am trying to mimic a layout explained in digital scrapbooking magazine and this technique is used.
Thank you!
Heather

Heather,
You can find one explanation at Janee's tutorials: http://www.myjanee.com/tuts/elements/elemask.htm
Since PSE does not support layer masks per se, the clipping group simulates a layer mask and hence Janee's name for it, "elemask" (cute, huh?)
Here are 2 examples:
In this example I wanted to blur the background leaving the flower in focus:
http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1euavV1sDqzrEqqqierfc5dSEH9yI01
1. Duplicate the Background layer and apply a Gaussian blur to the new layer.
2. Add an adjustment layer below the blur layer (any kind of adjustment layer will do), but do not make any adjustment - just click OK.\
3. Group the blur layer with the adjustment layer. On the adjustment layer paint the subject with black
to mask out the blur, paint with white to restore the blur.
Of course you can use other tools on the adjustment layer besides the paint brush, e.g., make a selection and fill with the black or white. In some cases it might be easier to first fill the adjustment layer with black and then paint with white.
In this example (not actually a mask but still demonstrates a clipping group) I wanted to crop the picture into a leaf shape.
http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1ys9Z7FspSwF8HHKGLrxjGVhbTodmF0
1. Use the leaf from the Custom Shape tool to draw out the leaf, creating a new layer.
2. Move the leaf layer below the picture layer.
3. Group the two layers.
Note that in order to move a layer below the Background layer you have to rename the Background layer to anything else (layer 0 in my example).

How can I create a black and white image similar to what I see in the "Replace Color" tool?

Hi all, I'm just wondering how I can create a black and white image similar to what I see in the preview window of the "Replace Color" tool. See attached screenshot for clarification -- I need the grass to be black while the soil is white or vice versa. Any tips?

One way is to use Select>Color Range
Make a new Color Fill Layer>White
(Layer>New Fill Layer>Solid Color)
Put a new color fill layer below>black
Just invert the layer mask on the top fill layer for the opposite effect.

Automatically create clipping masks

Hello,
I was watching this amazing video -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebVFXphyJqw
- and I noticed, that flash has a feature, that seems to automatically create clipping masks.
She starts using these at 1:45. She draws blue paths and applies gradients to shapes that use the blue paths but also underlying art.
I haven't figured out a quick way in illustrator to do it like this. (Draw path - divide - livepaint - new fill can produce such results, but thats too complicated for quick shading...)
Also there is a feature right at the beginning, where she erases segments of circular paths. They are exactly cut at the intersection points. Of course there are scissors and snapping in AI, but that method flash seems to offer looks much more convenient.
Maybe those functions are burrowed in some side menus in AI... I mean, I have Flash CS6, but I feel much more comfortable in AI.
If you know these features, especially the auto clipping mask thing, please tell me
-Andrej

Wow, the draw inside mode was also new to me. So much to learn!
It's a pity that it does not create merged clipping groups when having two objects selected simultaneously upon entering drawing inside mode.
I have not figured out, how to use the shapebuilder tool with single paths yet.
But I did try out the Pathfinder's outline operation. It seems to give me the seperated strokes I demanded.
Thanks for your help again Monika.
-Andrej

Creating a Mask and Refining

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