How Do I Extract One Layer From Another?

I know the title doesn't really explain what I want to do ... not sure how to word this.

This is what I need to do:

I have one layer (a flag) and a second layer (a circle with something inside). I need to cut out the flag in the shape (all around) of the circle. In other words, I want to extract all the flag photo except for a circle of it .. the size of the circle (decal) in the second layer.

I think I could mask this ... but I'm not familiar with masks yet. I know in Illustrator I've done this by just choosing two objects and choosing 'Mask > Make', but how do you do that in PS?

Sorry if this sounds hard to understand, it's really not ....

Thanks,
Dee

Dee Dee wrote:

I have one layer (a flag) and a second
layer (a circle with something inside). I
need to cut out the flag in the shape (all
around) of the circle. In other words, I
want to extract all the flag photo except
for a circle of it .. the size of the circle
(decal) in the second layer.

<<snip>>

Hi Dee Dee,

I'm using Elements, so it may be just a tad different, but here is what I would do.

Duplicate your layer. If it is your Background layer make 2 dupes. This is in case of a mistake, you can always go back to this layer.

Create a Fill Layer of solid white. It goes between your background layer and the working layers. Without this the area you cut will be visible from the background layer and will just confuse you. You'll think that nothing has happened. (Hate when I do that.) :-))

On dupe 1, Select the circle (decal) with a small amount of feathering (8-12?) Use the circle marquee.

Edit -> Cut. This will eliminate the circle from the image. DO NOT DE-SELECT.

Activate (click on) Dupe 2. The circle you selected is still there. Go to the select drop-down palette and click on Inverse. This will select everything EXCEPT the circle.

Edit -> Cut. This will eliminate the flag.

You now have the flagon one layer and the decal on another. It would e a good time to Rename the layers to avoid later confusion.

Now you can use either layer, or both to your hearts content.

You might want to discard the circle, but just click it Off for a while.

If you have a image of an eagle, you can put that on a separate layer and combine it with the flag layer. Select the eagle to separate it from its background (Edit->Cut). Move the eagle around until it covers the empty circle.

Have fun, let us know if tis helps.

Cheers Lee O.

I would do it this way:

ctrl (if your using windows, whatever the alternative in apple is use that) click on the circle layer.

Then once you have the running ants around the circle click onto the flag layer and you will see in your layers palette a button along the bottom called "Add Vector Mask", this will mask out all of the area except for the circle and is a non destructive editing style.

If you wanted to mask the outside area and not what is inside the circle just invert the selection ( ctrl+i ) and do the mask.

Anton wrote:

I would do it this way:

ctrl (if your using windows, whatever the
alternative in apple is use that) click on
the circle layer.

Then once you have the running ants
around the circle click onto the flag layer
and you will see in your layers palette a
button along the bottom called "Add
Vector Mask", this will mask out all of
the area except for the circle and is a
non destructive editing style.

If you wanted to mask the outside area
and not what is inside the circle just
invert the selection ( ctrl+i ) and do the
mask.

Anton, I think that what Dee Dee has is on one layer. She needs to start from there to separate the two parts to the image, flag and decal. She is trying to create a logo and wants to use the flag from what she has, replacing the decal with an eagle from a different file.

Cheers Lee O.

You could be right, i'm having a little trouble understanding what was written anyway. Screenshot or something would help

From reading the first part I was under the impression there are two

layers though.

I have one layer (a flag) and a second layer (a circle with something

inside)

"Lee O." wrote in message

Dee Dee wrote:

I have one layer (a flag) and a second
layer (a circle with something inside). I
need to cut out the flag in the shape (all
around) of the circle. In other words, I
want to extract all the flag photo except
for a circle of it .. the size of the circle
(decal) in the second layer.

<<snip>>

Hi Dee Dee,

I'm using Elements, so it may be just a tad different, but here is what I would do.

Duplicate your layer. If it is your Background layer make 2 dupes. This is in case of a mistake, you can always go back to this layer.
Create a Fill Layer of solid white. It goes between your background layer and the working layers. Without this the area you cut will be visible from the background layer and will just confuse you. You'll think that nothing has happened. (Hate when I do that.) :-))
On dupe 1, Select the circle (decal) with a small amount of feathering (8-12?) Use the circle marquee.

Edit -> Cut. This will eliminate the circle from the image. DO NOT DE-SELECT.

Activate (click on) Dupe 2. The circle you selected is still there. Go to the select drop-down palette and click on Inverse. This will select everything EXCEPT the circle.

Edit -> Cut. This will eliminate the flag.

You now have the flagon one layer and the decal on another. It would e a good time to Rename the layers to avoid later confusion.
Now you can use either layer, or both to your hearts content.
You might want to discard the circle, but just click it Off for a while.
If you have a image of an eagle, you can put that on a separate layer and combine it with the flag layer. Select the eagle to separate it from its background (Edit->Cut). Move the eagle around until it covers the empty circle.

Have fun, let us know if tis helps.

Cheers Lee O.

Hi Lee,

Thanks ever so much on trying to help with this. I don't think I explained myself very well ... so I put up an explanation with a photo for you to look at, might make things clearer.

I had to block certain things, cause this is a project for a non-profit organization. :-)

Here ya go: http://home.twcny.rr.com/kittykatz/room%202.htm

Hugs,
Dee

"Anton" wrote in message

You could be right, i'm having a little trouble understanding what was written anyway. Screenshot or something would help

From reading the first part I was under the impression there are two

layers though.

I have one layer (a flag) and a second layer (a circle with something

inside)

Hi Anton,

Sorry I didn't explain very well .. here's a picture with more of an explanation ... maybe it will help.

http://home.twcny.rr.com/kittykatz/room%202.htm

Hugs,
Dee

Ok I understand now.

I would use the circle marquee tool so that you can select that area between the black ring and the white circle and then use the mask button like i've said above.