Preserving flattened image transparency

This is no big deal because everything works as is, but I'm just curios...

I have an image with a layer mask and no background layer. (Speaking of which, why can't a layer mask be added to the background layer anyway?).

The end result is that a part of the image becomes transparent. This is what I want because this image is to be used in Apply Image on a whole series of other images.

Now, when I save this image in TIFF format both the image and the layer mask are saved doubling the file size. However, if I flatten the image before saving, the transparency is replaced by white.

So, my question is how do I (can I?) flatten the image and yet preserve transparency so the resulting file is the same size as the original image without the layer mask?

No big deal, as I said, because I can just keep this file as is, but it's a opportunity to learn something new. PS 6 here, BTW, if it makes any difference.

Thanks!

Don.

I don't have 6 installed any more. Does it allow you to save to .png format? "Don" wrote in message

This is no big deal because everything works as is, but I'm just curios...

I have an image with a layer mask and no background layer. (Speaking of which, why can't a layer mask be added to the background layer anyway?).

The end result is that a part of the image becomes transparent. This is what I want because this image is to be used in Apply Image on a whole series of other images.

Now, when I save this image in TIFF format both the image and the layer mask are saved doubling the file size. However, if I flatten the image before saving, the transparency is replaced by white.
So, my question is how do I (can I?) flatten the image and yet preserve transparency so the resulting file is the same size as the original image without the layer mask?

No big deal, as I said, because I can just keep this file as is, but it's a opportunity to learn something new. PS 6 here, BTW, if it makes any difference.

Thanks!

Don.

First, you can add a layer mask to the "Backround" layer, simply double click on the backround layer in the layers pallet and that will create an editable layer called "Layer 0"; then you can do any editing that you wish.

Second, you are going to get a white backround when you flatten the image. If it is a soft edged image that you want to blend into a backround, build the backround into your photoshop image, you still get a fairly large file, but that is the rules of the game.

If it is a hard edged image simply use the pen tool to outline the image and then save the "working path" and then convert it to a clipping path and save it as an .eps.

Hope this helps.

On Sat, 28 Feb 2004 11:21:35 GMT, (Don) wrote:

This is no big deal because everything works as is, but I'm just curios...

I have an image with a layer mask and no background layer. (Speaking of which, why can't a layer mask be added to the background layer anyway?).

The end result is that a part of the image becomes transparent. This is what I want because this image is to be used in Apply Image on a whole series of other images.

Now, when I save this image in TIFF format both the image and the layer mask are saved doubling the file size. However, if I flatten the image before saving, the transparency is replaced by white.
So, my question is how do I (can I?) flatten the image and yet preserve transparency so the resulting file is the same size as the original image without the layer mask?

No big deal, as I said, because I can just keep this file as is, but it's a opportunity to learn something new. PS 6 here, BTW, if it makes any difference.

Thanks!

Don.

Don wrote:

This is no big deal because everything works as is, but I'm just curios...

I have an image with a layer mask and no background layer. (Speaking of which, why can't a layer mask be added to the background layer anyway?).

The end result is that a part of the image becomes transparent. This is what I want because this image is to be used in Apply Image on a whole series of other images.

Now, when I save this image in TIFF format both the image and the layer mask are saved doubling the file size. However, if I flatten the image before saving, the transparency is replaced by white.
So, my question is how do I (can I?) flatten the image and yet preserve transparency so the resulting file is the same size as the original image without the layer mask?

You can't. The idea behind flattening is that there is nothing "underneath" so there can't be transparency or Layer Masks. It's not a layered file if it's flattened.

But you don't need a flattened tiff to use Apply Image. Just import the transparent layer as a layer into each document and choose that layer in the Apply Image dialog. Then trash the imported layer.

Or import it, choose the Blending Mode you want and flatten.

/snip/

--
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http://www.sover.net/~hannigan/edjh.html
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http://www.sover.net/~hannigan/batsale.html

Lemme check...

Yes it does! OK, saved as .png. Reloaded .png and the mask has indeed gone but the transparency is still on. Saved that as TIFF. Loaded back and... Neat! :-)

The resulting file is still not the same size as a flattened TIF but definitely smaller.

Thanks!

Don.

On Sat, 28 Feb 2004 13:28:08 GMT, "JP Kabala" wrote:

I don't have 6 installed any more. Does it allow you to save to .png format? "Don" wrote in message

This is no big deal because everything works as is, but I'm just curios...

I have an image with a layer mask and no background layer. (Speaking of which, why can't a layer mask be added to the background layer anyway?).

The end result is that a part of the image becomes transparent. This is what I want because this image is to be used in Apply Image on a whole series of other images.

Now, when I save this image in TIFF format both the image and the layer mask are saved doubling the file size. However, if I flatten the image before saving, the transparency is replaced by white.
So, my question is how do I (can I?) flatten the image and yet preserve transparency so the resulting file is the same size as the original image without the layer mask?

No big deal, as I said, because I can just keep this file as is, but it's a opportunity to learn something new. PS 6 here, BTW, if it makes any difference.

Thanks!

Don.

On Sat, 28 Feb 2004 17:11:50 GMT, Mike Horne
wrote:

First, you can add a layer mask to the "Backround" layer, simply double click on the backround layer in the layers pallet and that will create an editable layer called "Layer 0"; then you can do any editing that you wish.

Bingo! :-) I used to do it the hard way, by duplicating the background layer and then deleting it, but this is much more convenient!

Second, you are going to get a white backround when you flatten the image. If it is a soft edged image that you want to blend into a backround, build the backround into your photoshop image, you still get a fairly large file, but that is the rules of the game.

It is a soft edged image. I sort of expected the file size to stay large.

If it is a hard edged image simply use the pen tool to outline the image and then save the "working path" and then convert it to a clipping path and save it as an .eps.

Hope this helps.

It sure did! Another neat tip. Thanks Mike!

Don.

On Sat, 28 Feb 2004 11:21:35 GMT, (Don) wrote:

This is no big deal because everything works as is, but I'm just curios...

I have an image with a layer mask and no background layer. (Speaking of which, why can't a layer mask be added to the background layer anyway?).

The end result is that a part of the image becomes transparent. This is what I want because this image is to be used in Apply Image on a whole series of other images.

Now, when I save this image in TIFF format both the image and the layer mask are saved doubling the file size. However, if I flatten the image before saving, the transparency is replaced by white.
So, my question is how do I (can I?) flatten the image and yet preserve transparency so the resulting file is the same size as the original image without the layer mask?

No big deal, as I said, because I can just keep this file as is, but it's a opportunity to learn something new. PS 6 here, BTW, if it makes any difference.

Thanks!

Don.

On Sat, 28 Feb 2004 19:02:41 GMT, edjh wrote:

Don wrote:

So, my question is how do I (can I?) flatten the image and yet preserve transparency so the resulting file is the same size as the original image without the layer mask?

You can't. The idea behind flattening is that there is nothing "underneath" so there can't be transparency or Layer Masks. It's not a layered file if it's flattened.

I realize that, but the point really was whether Photoshop can save the transparent "color" and apparently it can't, although as JP cleverly suggested going via .png managed to removed the layer mask and still preserve the transparency at minimal size penalty.

But you don't need a flattened tiff to use Apply Image. Just import the transparent layer as a layer into each document and choose that layer in the Apply Image dialog. Then trash the imported layer.

Or import it, choose the Blending Mode you want and flatten.

Thanks!

BTW, I know I don't need a flattened tiff to use Apply Image because I've been using it already. Since I will be applying this to many images, I simply load it first and just leave there.

Don.