Is it possible to load a grayscale image as a selection in Photoshop Elements like it is in Photoshop?

I just discovered a work-around for PSE but is there an easier way?

For example, to apply a fill-in flash effect in Photoshop Elements:

Image/Duplicate Image...,

Image/Mode/Grayscale,
Filter/Blur/Gaussian Blur 3-6,
Image/Adjustments/Invert.

Return to the original image and Layer/New Adjustment Layer/Levels... Option-click the (now all-white) Adjustment Layer's mask to display it.

Return to the blurry inverted image and do Select/All. Then Press the Shift-key down and drag the whole blurry inverted grayscale image to the original image.

Command-click the Adjustment Layer's grayscale mask to load it as a selection. Drag the Levels Adjustment Layer to the trash. Layer/New/Layer Via Copy. Edit/Fill 50% Gray, Color Dodge, Preserve Transparency.

(Modified from Eismann's Restoration & Retouching).

Yes, PSE has a Fill Flash enhancemnent but IMO the technique above yields better results. Photoshop is overkill for our needs but we miss features like this.

--
Matti Haveri <mattiDOThaveriATsjokiDOTutaeiroskaaDOTfi> remove ei roskaa