using a (grayscale) image as a layer mask

It took some time, but I feel like getting a grip on using layer masks as a means to blend two layers together.

Until now I use either the brushtool or the gradient tool in the layer mask to decide on which parts of a layer has what opacity / transparency value.

I thought it should / would be possible to use a (grayscale) image instead of the brushtool or gradient tool to do that: the darker parts of that grayscale image make the corresponding layer more transparent.

If I try to do that I cannot get that grayscale image on the layer mask. Instead of that Photoshop simply makes another layer.

Does anyone know if this is possible at all, or is it just a silly idea.

Thanks

Gerard

BTW: I use CS2

Gerard Verhoef wrote:

It took some time, but I feel like getting a grip on using layer masks as a means to blend two layers together.

Until now I use either the brushtool or the gradient tool in the layer mask to decide on which parts of a layer has what opacity / transparency value.
I thought it should / would be possible to use a (grayscale) image instead of the brushtool or gradient tool to do that: the darker parts of that grayscale image make the corresponding layer more transparent.
If I try to do that I cannot get that grayscale image on the layer mask. Instead of that Photoshop simply makes another layer.

Does anyone know if this is possible at all, or is it just a silly idea.
Thanks

Gerard

BTW: I use CS2

You can make a blank Layer Mask on the layer then go to the Channels palette where it will appear as a channel and Paste. Or you can highlight the blank mask, Select All (or any selection) and use Paste Into (Shift+Ctrl+V).

--
Comic book sketches and artwork:
http://www.sover.net/~hannigan/edjh.html
Comics art for sale:
http://www.sover.net/~hannigan/batsale.html

Thanks edjh,

I I still have a problem with this: the paste into option in the edit emnu is grayed out. Do you know what I do wrong?

Thnx,

Gerard

In article <UiFPe.158$>,
"Gerard Verhoef" wrote:

I thought it should / would be possible to use a (grayscale) image instead of the brushtool or gradient tool to do that: the darker parts of that grayscale image make the corresponding layer more transparent.
If I try to do that I cannot get that grayscale image on the layer mask. Instead of that Photoshop simply makes another layer.

You have to paste it into the mask.

Hold down ALT (Mac: Option) on your keyboard and click on the mask (not the layer!) in the Layers palette. Your screen will change to a view of the mask. Now paste the grayscale image into the mask.

--
Art, photography, shareware, polyamory, literature, kink: all at http://www.xeromag.com/franklin.html

Gerard Verhoef wrote:

Thanks edjh,

I I still have a problem with this: the paste into option in the edit emnu is grayed out. Do you know what I do wrong?

Thnx,

Gerard

You have to have an active selection (crawling ants) for Paste Into to work.

--
Comic book sketches and artwork:
http://www.sover.net/~hannigan/edjh.html
Comics art for sale:
http://www.sover.net/~hannigan/batsale.html

Thanks edjh & tacit.

I got it!

Gerard

I can't figure this out at all. I'm using PS 6. To create the blank layer mask do I use: Layer, add layer mask, reveal All or hide all ? Click the Quick Mask button ? After doing that I could paste the grayscale image which then gave me the Redscale image, but after that, I couldn't figure out how to get any effect, if I switched back to standard mode, I just got a strange selection but no varied transparency type effect. Am I supposed to add another layer ? if so, over or under the layer I'm trying to effect ? Just don't get it. I would appreciate any help, this has been very frustrating.

"edjh" wrote in message

Gerard Verhoef wrote:

It took some time, but I feel like getting a grip on using layer masks as a means to blend two layers together.

Until now I use either the brushtool or the gradient tool in the layer mask to decide on which parts of a layer has what opacity / transparency value.

I thought it should / would be possible to use a (grayscale) image instead of the brushtool or gradient tool to do that: the darker parts of that grayscale image make the corresponding layer more transparent.
If I try to do that I cannot get that grayscale image on the layer mask. Instead of that Photoshop simply makes another layer.

Does anyone know if this is possible at all, or is it just a silly idea.
Thanks

Gerard

BTW: I use CS2

You can make a blank Layer Mask on the layer then go to the Channels palette where it will appear as a channel and Paste. Or you can highlight the blank mask, Select All (or any selection) and use Paste Into (Shift+Ctrl+V).

--
Comic book sketches and artwork:
http://www.sover.net/~hannigan/edjh.html
Comics art for sale:
http://www.sover.net/~hannigan/batsale.html

In article <pyMSe.7055$>,
"Dave" wrote:

I can't figure this out at all. I'm using PS 6. To create the blank layer mask do I use: Layer, add layer mask, reveal All or hide all ?

Either one of those will work.

Click the
Quick Mask button ?

That will not work. A Quick Mask is *not* the same as a layer mask and is not related.

After doing that I could paste the grayscale image which then gave me the Redscale image, but after that, I couldn't figure out how to get any effect, if I switched back to standard mode, I just got a strange selection but no varied transparency type effect.

If you paste into a Quick Mask and then switch back to normal, the selection you see *is the grayscale image*. If you then save the selection as a layer mask, you will have that grayscale image as a layer mask.

Am I supposed to add
another layer ? if so, over or under the layer I'm trying to effect ? Just don't get it. I would appreciate any help, this has been very frustrating.

You do not add another layer.

Here is the easiest way to do it:

1. Create a layer mask. Use Hide All or Reveal All; it makes no difference.

2. Switch to the layer mask. You do that by holding down the ALT key on your keyboard and clicking on the layer mask in the Layers palette. The layer mask is a rectangle just to the right of the layer thumbnail.

3. Hit Paste.

4. Switch back to the layer. You do that by clicking on the layer thumbnail in the Layers palette.

--
Art, photography, shareware, polyamory, literature, kink: all at http://www.xeromag.com/franklin.html

Perfect explanation ! Got it first try ! Thanks so much !

One thing I don't understand. If I do a copy merged and then paste so as to create a new image, it looks exactly
the same until I flatten image at which time the appearance changes quite a lot. The background layer becomes much more prominant and the masked aspect less prominant. I fear this may not be an adequate discription. I can only hope you have an idea of what I'm talking about. Is there a way to prevent this appearance shift when flattening image ?

"tacit" wrote in message

In article <pyMSe.7055$>,
"Dave" wrote:

I can't figure this out at all. I'm using PS 6. To create the blank layer mask do I use: Layer, add layer mask, reveal All or hide all ?

Either one of those will work.

Click the
Quick Mask button ?

That will not work. A Quick Mask is *not* the same as a layer mask and is not related.

After doing that I could paste the grayscale image which then gave me the Redscale image, but after that, I couldn't figure out how
to get any effect, if I switched back to standard mode, I just got a strange
selection but no varied transparency type effect.

If you paste into a Quick Mask and then switch back to normal, the selection you see *is the grayscale image*. If you then save the selection as a layer mask, you will have that grayscale image as a layer mask.

Am I supposed to add
another layer ? if so, over or under the layer I'm trying to effect ? Just
don't get it. I would appreciate any help, this has been very frustrating.

You do not add another layer.

Here is the easiest way to do it:

1. Create a layer mask. Use Hide All or Reveal All; it makes no difference.

2. Switch to the layer mask. You do that by holding down the ALT key on your keyboard and clicking on the layer mask in the Layers palette. The layer mask is a rectangle just to the right of the layer thumbnail.
3. Hit Paste.

4. Switch back to the layer. You do that by clicking on the layer thumbnail in the Layers palette.

--
Art, photography, shareware, polyamory, literature, kink: all at http://www.xeromag.com/franklin.html

In article <yTpTe.8063$>,
"Dave" wrote:

One thing I don't understand. If I do a copy merged and then paste so as to create a new image, it looks exactly
the same until I flatten image at which time the appearance changes quite a lot. The background layer becomes much more prominant and the masked aspect less prominant. I fear this may not be an adequate discription. I can only hope you have an idea of what I'm talking about. Is there a way to prevent this appearance shift when flattening image ?

Zoom in to 100% on your monitor. Does it still seem to change? Often, when you are zoomed out, flattening an image might seem to change the appearance because of a quirk in the way Photoshop renders layers when you're zoomed out. If you zoom in to 100%, you should see no change.

--
Art, photography, shareware, polyamory, literature, kink: all at http://www.xeromag.com/franklin.html