Photoshop Tutorial: Understanding Layer Masks

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#4651578 - 04/07/10 01:31 PM Photoshop Tutorial: Understanding Layer Masks
2000SiRacer 2000SiRacer Post Master Supreme Registered: 04/19/02 Posts: 42801 Loc: Colorado	Rather than create my own ultra convoluted and ultimately inferior tutorial, I found the online tutorial I first read to understand layer masks. I haven't read it recently but I remember it being very easy to read and extremely informative. I know a number of people here have shown an interest in understanding this uber-important feature so read on: http://www.photoshopessentials.com/basics/layers/layer-masks/index.php We can use this thread as a Q&A for any additional questions, comments, etc too _________________________
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#4651613 - 04/07/10 01:41 PM Re: Photoshop Tutorial: Understanding Layer Masks [Re: 2000SiRacer]
BobBarker BobBarker Unregistered	wow, sweet....when I get some quiet enough time, I'm going to sit and read through that and understand it. Thanks, Eric
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#4652651 - 04/07/10 07:08 PM Re: Photoshop Tutorial: Understanding Layer Masks [Re: ]
jsmonet jsmonet Post Master Supreme Registered: 11/13/99 Posts: 155816 Loc: So. Cali	i didn't realize it was that easy, conceptually _________________________
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#4652667 - 04/07/10 07:18 PM Re: Photoshop Tutorial: Understanding Layer Masks [Re: jsmonet]
Lafora Lafora Post Master Sr Registered: 12/16/01 Posts: 4623	Think of it this way. A layer is a change you want to do (outside of the "j" shortcut -- the healing tool, and anything you need to manipulate the actual pixel, ie the free transform tool, or liquify) A mask is the actual amount of change you want. White would be to accept the entire amount, black would be to revert it "normal" and any shade in between is a % of the change. Let's say you want to clone something out, you'd open a new layer and then proceed to clone the part you wanted cloned out. Why open a new layer? Because you're not affecting the base layer (your actual picture). After you clone it out, gaussian blur the layer so it evens out iin tonality. You can take it a step further after by merging all visible layers (ctrl alt shift e) and then use the patch tool to even out the blending even more. Christ I can write pages and pages on this shit lol, but I'll stop it here for now.
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#4653369 - 04/08/10 07:26 AM Re: Photoshop Tutorial: Understanding Layer Masks [Re: Lafora]
2000SiRacer 2000SiRacer Post Master Supreme Registered: 04/19/02 Posts: 42801 Loc: Colorado	Originally Posted By: Lafora Think of it this way. A layer is a change you want to do (outside of the "j" shortcut -- the healing tool, and anything you need to manipulate the actual pixel, ie the free transform tool, or liquify) and even in those cases I would create a duplicate layer to work on, just so you always have your untouched base layer to fall back on. _________________________
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#4653677 - 04/08/10 09:35 AM Re: Photoshop Tutorial: Understanding Layer Masks [Re: 2000SiRacer]
scootergeek scootergeek Post Master Supreme Registered: 07/24/00 Posts: 46248 Loc: East of St. Louis	Originally Posted By: 2000SiRacer and even in those cases I would create a duplicate layer to work on, just so you always have your untouched base layer to fall back on. Now you're losing me. I get it for stitching multiple images together or for times when you're making a ton of changes, and some of them may look like shit in the end. But for a little cloning or what have you, why worry about having an "untouched base layer" when you've always got an untouched RAW file to refer back to? curiously, scott _________________________ Still pissy after all these years...
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#4653741 - 04/08/10 09:54 AM Re: Photoshop Tutorial: Understanding Layer Masks [Re: scootergeek]
2000SiRacer 2000SiRacer Post Master Supreme Registered: 04/19/02 Posts: 42801 Loc: Colorado	Originally Posted By: scootergeek Originally Posted By: 2000SiRacer and even in those cases I would create a duplicate layer to work on, just so you always have your untouched base layer to fall back on. Now you're losing me. I get it for stitching multiple images together or for times when you're making a ton of changes, and some of them may look like shit in the end. But for a little cloning or what have you, why worry about having an "untouched base layer" when you've always got an untouched RAW file to refer back to? curiously, scott First, creating a panoramic in LR2/CS4 is as easy as pie and fully automated. The only real work on your end is making sure you take good photos for stitching (ie level, plenty of overlap, etc). The actual stitching process is just selecting the proper photos in LR2 and selecting Merge to Panorama. This automatically exports the photos to CS4 and merges them all together leaving you with your rough pano. Regarding the untouched base layer; for me it's more a question of 'why not?'. It takes a second to duplicate your base and then you always have this insurance policy to go back on. Let's say you're cloning out all kinds of blemishes and when you're finished you see one that doesn't look quite right. Takes two seconds to make it disappear via layer mask and then you get a second shot at it. You may never need it, but it doesn't cost you anything and it could save your ass. Yes, you always have the untouched RAW file to refer back to but maybe you've made a host of adjustments. You'd be forced to start over from scratch. Additionally, if I'm doing a lot of retouching I like to be able to turn off the 'retouched layer' and quickly see the before and after as compared to the original. EDIT: A duplicate layer also lets you combine things like dodge and burn with different blending modes...an area of PS I'm just beginning to explore. It's definitely a game changer though Edited by 2000SiRacer (04/08/10 12:46 PM) _________________________
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#4655339 - 04/08/10 03:57 PM Re: Photoshop Tutorial: Understanding Layer Masks [Re: 2000SiRacer]
scootergeek scootergeek Post Master Supreme Registered: 07/24/00 Posts: 46248 Loc: East of St. Louis	I guess, it just seems like a serious complication to what ordinarily (for me anyway) is a very minimal amount of post. I read through the lesson last night and used it to do another eagle and moon composite, but I didn't feel it was any easier or looked any better than first one I did a few months ago. And I couldn't think of anything else I had shot where it would come in handy. , scott _________________________ Still pissy after all these years...
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#4655447 - 04/08/10 04:41 PM Re: Photoshop Tutorial: Understanding Layer Masks [Re: scootergeek]
2000SiRacer 2000SiRacer Post Master Supreme Registered: 04/19/02 Posts: 42801 Loc: Colorado	Command + J does not a serious complication make! Just hit that shortcut as the first thing you do when you open a file in CS4. Don't give up on it yet. Remember...layer masks don't have to be for making composites...you can use it to localize any adjustment you want to do. Use curves to boost contrast or adjust color, then use a mask to localize that adjustment to part of your image. Once you get comfortable with it you'll more than likely end up using it all the time. Take any portrait you've shot...then use layer masks to sharpen the photo to different degrees. Lots of sharpening on the eyes, little to no on the skin, then none at all on the background. It's a rare occasion that I don't use a layer mask when working on something in CS4. _________________________
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#4655598 - 04/08/10 05:34 PM Re: Photoshop Tutorial: Understanding Layer Masks [Re: 2000SiRacer]
scootergeek scootergeek Post Master Supreme Registered: 07/24/00 Posts: 46248 Loc: East of St. Louis	I guess I should try. Maybe I can get my greens back under control - they've been a little over the top lately. cheers, scott _________________________ Still pissy after all these years...
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#4656509 - 04/08/10 10:56 PM Re: Photoshop Tutorial: Understanding Layer Masks [Re: scootergeek]
scootergeek scootergeek Post Master Supreme Registered: 07/24/00 Posts: 46248 Loc: East of St. Louis	Ok, tried it tonight, made it a little cartoonish though. Started with this: But I was sad that the plane was so small, so with a little cut&paste as a layer mask and now we're all about to die... maybe should have sized the plane a little smaller. , scott _________________________ Still pissy after all these years...
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#4656521 - 04/08/10 11:03 PM Re: Photoshop Tutorial: Understanding Layer Masks [Re: scootergeek]
Lafora Lafora Post Master Sr Registered: 12/16/01 Posts: 4623	lol, for that one i woudln't even bother with a mask. lasso, ctrl j, ctrl t and give 'er $\:D$ the problem with a mask in this situation is, now you see a halo around the plane.
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#4656557 - 04/08/10 11:22 PM Re: Photoshop Tutorial: Understanding Layer Masks [Re: Lafora]
scootergeek scootergeek Post Master Supreme Registered: 07/24/00 Posts: 46248 Loc: East of St. Louis	The halo around the bottom isn't from the mask - I cut pretty widely around the plane and then used the paint brush at about 40% opacity to blend the two skies. I assume it's a sharpening artifact. cheers, scott _________________________ Still pissy after all these years...
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#4656777 - 04/09/10 06:23 AM Re: Photoshop Tutorial: Understanding Layer Masks [Re: scootergeek]
2000SiRacer 2000SiRacer Post Master Supreme Registered: 04/19/02 Posts: 42801 Loc: Colorado	Originally Posted By: scootergeek The halo around the bottom isn't from the mask - I cut pretty widely around the plane and then used the paint brush at about 40% opacity to blend the two skies. I assume it's a sharpening artifact. cheers, scott I can see the sharpening with masks technique being helpful to you Scott. Many of your photos include both buildings and plant life. Obviously the buildings can hold up to much more sharpening than the greenery. Using masks you don't have to choose how you'll treat the whole frame at once. _________________________
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