With a Path "layer" selected in the Paths palette: click on the Layer in the Layers Palette which you want to affect; and Cmd. Click on the "Add Layer Mask" icon.
Your file’s resolution may be too low.
Ann I tried your method but the layer mask is still making the graphic anti alias. I am running photoshop cs on a g4 dual 1000 300 dpi file.
Switch to bitmap mode.
Really, it would help to know what you are trying to accomplish. You will never have a clean straight edge in a bitmapped image, unless it is an image of a perfect level square, because pixels do not chop off at angles. Higher resolution, as Todie suggests, is one way to achieve the look of a clean edge. 1600ppi and above is going to be very clean at 100% size. Again, what are you trying to accomplish?
You could turn your vector mask into a custom shape (Edit>Define Custom Shape) then use it to draw the shape on a new layer in the rasterized mode (third icon in the Options Bar). Make sure Antialised is unchecked.
What I am trying to accomplish is a hard vector like edge within a layer, just like if you applied a clipping mask on a tiff in illustrator. You can right click a path, go to make selection, click off anti alias. then cmd click and make a layer mask the edge is solid. Is there an anti alias button or something to un click for paths. The reason for this is to be able to switch dpi and still have a hard edge. I know that I can do this with the bitmapped version but, it would make my life a whole lot easier if I could get the effect of an illustrator clipping mask within a photoshop layer.
collinsbt,
Sorry, but I’m pretty sure that what you want to do can’t be done in Photoshop.
I’m not sure how vector masks work, but imagine they follow the same rules as all vectors in Photoshop which display at the file’s resolution usually with an anti-aliased edge.
Key word: Display.
If saved in a format that retains vectors the edges will naturally render at the rez of whatever printer they are sent to.
What you see is not what you get.
<< You can right click a path, go to make selection, >>
STOP. Right there. Do NOT "make a selection".
Highlight the Path palette layer then
try doing EXACTLY as I described in my previous post.
Right. You want to make a VECTOR mask. Which is a mask that uses one or more PATHS AS THE MASK, not selections that are made FROM those paths. Follow Ann’s instructions — and John Slate’s insight — and you’ll achieve Nirvana.
john, I understand the display viewed sometimes is not what you get, but if the vector mask is later flattened out the art is still anti aliased which tells me that it is not a display problem. Ann I tried your method over and over but with no success. maybe you could e-mail me a simple file with a vector mask without anti-alias to Thanks for all your help.
I have just sent you a file.
But do realize that you will see on-screen stair-stepping on diagonals and curves if you zoom into pixel-level viewing. These get smoothed out at the resolution of the image-setter when the file is finally RIPped.
On the otherhand, true vertical and horizontal vector-edges are crisp.
If you are making a Vector mask correctly, you will never even see an option for anti-alias edges! You only see that option if you make a Selection from a pathwhich is exactly what you should NOT be doing in this case!
And, do be careful of the way in which you publish your e-mail address in these forumsyou don’t want to get bitten by spiders!
This way is safer:
bill at massiveinc dot com.
Thanks so much for all of your help. I went ahead and printed the vector mask and the printout has a clean edge, but the way we do color separations eventually all of the vector masks become merged which ends up with a fuzzy (anti alias) edge. What I am looking for is a solid bitmapped edge when the vector mask is rasterized, but I dont think it is possible.
I don’t know how you "do color seps." but it sounds as if you need to change your methodsor buy a new RIP!
Why don’t you just put your files together in InDesign CS; Export to PDF (using Press standards); and output the PDFs to the RIP.
That way the sharp edges of your vectors and type will be retained and rasterized correctly.
we are not doing standard 4 color process. we work in screenprinting t-shirts and use up to 14 spot colors to print. I can achieve what I need to do through bitmap path selections which are turned into channels and later applied for retouching and layer masks. But if i could use vector masks that did not become anti alias when merged would save me a ton of time. what we do here is unlike any other printing and is really hard to explain, but thanks again for your help.
