Layer Masks...how are they used?

hunter20ga

hunter20ga

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Drake
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Forgive my ignorance...I'm just a poor Yank. :lol:

I've used Elements 5 for three years, then move on to Elements 8 when I got my iMac last summer. I see now that Elements 9 has layer masks...and i read in reviews and elsewhere on TP that layer masks are "powerful tools."

I'm struggling, though, to get through my thick skull, how one uses these masks. I'm not asking for a detailed explanation of specific uses, but rather a general explanation of how layer masks are used in photo editing.

Thanks so much...:thumbs:
 
Layer mask's are invaluable for making selective (just part of the image) adjustments to a image. Very basically you:
duplicate the image
make the adjustment Globally
Create the mask (which will mask out your adjustment)
Paint-in the areas you want the adjustment too apply to.
Flatten the image.

Can be used for applying selective adjustments to sharpening, noise reduction, colour adjustments, Highlights/shadows and just about anything else.
 
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If you think of layers as glass slides stacked one above the other, the masks let you hide bits of say the top one so you can see the one below (like cutting a hole in it) This means you can ajust one layer to say darken it, then hide the sky or whatever so you effectivly only darken part of it.
The advantage with masks is you can ajust them and "fix" any mistakes if you go over the sky or whatever.
Here I have darkened the top layer, then used the mask to "see through" the bottom half so only the sky in the top image shows the darkening and I'm seeing the lighter forground on the bottom layer.
5394769119_22677f5345.jpg
 
Above advice is very good, the way I picture is (and I use Wayne's photo as an example), the white painted on is the window and the black is a wall.

Painting white is like painting on a window to see that layer.

Sometimes I worry how simple-minded I can be ;)
 
Thanks, everyone, your explanations and links have really helped. Now I can run out to buy Elements 9 and play around. :clap:
 
Do any other programmes do the layering thing?

I'd love to make my landscapes look more atmospheric/moodier/dreamier and it seems that layering may be a way of doing that. If so what would you recommend is the best programme? Just been on the Adobe website and my head is bursting with options .

If only there was a big arrow that said "download this and everything will be OK"
 
Paint shop pro does, Gimp (free) does layers and I think layer masks.
 
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