Masking

PL
Posted By
Paul L UK
Jul 28, 2003
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1755
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Leen

When zoomed in and the mask on, you can see if there are any bits that you have missed and/or need adding to your selection. Also you can easier see parts that are not 100% selected.

My starter for 10

Paul

Another thing is you can see how much feathering there is on your selection

How to Master Sharpening in Photoshop

Give your photos a professional finish with sharpening in Photoshop. Learn to enhance details, create contrast, and prepare your images for print, web, and social media.

P
Phosphor
Jul 28, 2003
Leen,

I agree with Paul.

In selection mode, the line of marching ants is where the pixels are 50% or more selected. That’s ok with a hard brush but with a soft edged brush you can’t see the feathering. Mask mode will show the selection and fade the color of the mask for partial selection so you can get a feel for the extent and hardness of the selection.

Also, in places where you’ve used the selection brush to paint over an area, mask mode allows you to see the places where the overlap was greater than 50% but less than 100%. In selection mode, you have no indication that the selection is partial unless it drops below 50%.

Bob
LK
Leen Koper
Jul 28, 2003
Paul and Bob,
I see. I think I understand and I will try tomorrow when I’ll be back in the studio. But now I’ve got another "problem": what ‘s th euse of other selection tools like the lasso etc. if this masking method seems to be superior?

Leen
CS
carl sutherland
Jul 28, 2003
Robert,

Is there any reference to illustrate what you are talking about. I understand all the words, but can not understand the concept. One illustration would do wonders for me I believe.

Thanks

Carl
P
Phosphor
Jul 28, 2003
Leen,

Part of it is history, the selection brush came with PSE 2, for example, part is function, and part is personal preferences. Each of the selection tools has an advantage that makes them useful in some circumstances and not in others. Having a variety of ways to make a selection is an advantage.

The rectangular and elliptical marquee tools are great for quickly and precisely selecting areas that match their geometry. But they aren’t very good if you need to select an arbitrary area.

I tend to use the selection brush a lot but I also use the other tools.

The Lasso tools are good at selecting arbitrary areas. I’ll use the standard lasso tool to rapidly delineate a gross selection and then use another tool to fine tune the selection. I often use the polygonal tool when selecting straight edged objects that I intend to cut or copy or to skew to either correct or create distortion. I tend to not use the magnetic lasso but some find it easier to trace around the edge of objects as contrasted with the normal lasso tool.

Have you ever heard of the expression "different strokes for different folks"? That kind of applys here. We have another expression "what ever floats your boat". What ever tools you are comfortable with and can use to accomplish what you want to do are acceptable.

In terms of technique, when making selections with these other tools, you can always switch to the selection brush after making selections and look at it with the mask mode set to see what you’ve done.

Bob
RC
Richard Coencas
Jul 28, 2003
Bob is correct in his overall assessment of the different uses of selection tools. Would like to share that it is a very common workflow to make a rough selection with a lasso or a magic wand and then use the mask as a way to fine tune the selection. It is a lot quicker to draw a rough selection or click once with the wand then it is to paint a mask around a complex object. But once you’ve made the rough selection, the painting options of the mask tool make it possible to get a really accurate selection.

Rich
LK
Leen Koper
Jul 28, 2003
Thanx to all of you. I couldnot resist the temptation and went to the studio tonight. I think I will be applying this tool quite often.

In dutch we would say: "the coin has dropped"
(analogy to the coin in a slot machine)

Leen
CS
Chuck Snyder
Jul 28, 2003
And as Julius Caesar reportedly said, "Alea jacta est"….!

🙂

Chuck

p.s. I use all the selection tools, and leave them in "Add to Selection" mode where that’s an option. That way, I might select a large portion with the rectangular marquee, add a little more with the lasso, then finish off with the selection brush. As Bob said, they’re all useful and I’m glad to have them all!
P
Phosphor
Jul 29, 2003
My goodness, Chuck, were you a secret Classics major or something?
CS
Chuck Snyder
Jul 29, 2003
Barbara: Well….I read "Classics Illustrated" comic books as a kid – does that count?

🙂

Chuck

p.s. Two years of high school Latin might have had some had an impact….
CS
carl sutherland
Jul 29, 2003
Chuck,

Please stop that. You know most of us don’t read Texan. And that Julius fellow, was he in the Rangers or the Dallas Cowboys. I can’t quite place him, but then I’m not a native-just a wannabe.

Carl
LK
Leen Koper
Jul 29, 2003
Chuck, I kinda crossed the Rubicon as well. ;-))

About a "classic major", I feel like I’m a rookie in the "Elements Major League" at this forum. Learning quickly however.
Thanks to all of these teammates.
E
eddie
Nov 15, 2003
Hello,
I am completely new to Photoshop,I have Photoshop 7.
Can someone tell me the best way to mask an image to cut it very very cleanly from the background.
Also are there any sites showing Photoshop tutorials.
Thank you
Eddie
JF
Joshua_F_Perry
Apr 1, 2004
Thanks a bunch Barbara ,
that was a great help I think I am getting closer to understaning it …working on some photos with that new info …Joshua
BL
Brian La Plante
Jul 24, 2004
I am trying to use a oval picture for a web page and want it to fade to transparent all the way around. I know I will need to use a mask but am not sure of how to create a oval mask that will accomplish this.

Please help!

Brian
N
noone
Jul 24, 2004
In article ,
says…
I am trying to use a oval picture for a web page and want it to fade to transparent all the way around. I know I will need to use a mask but am not sure of how to create a oval mask that will accomplish this.
Please help!

Brian

Brian,

The easiest way to accomplish what you want (what I think you want, anyway) is to use the Elliptical Marquee Tool and your image on a Layer, above a transparent Layer. You can hold down Ctrl to start your Selection with its center where you place the cursor, expanding the Selection by dragging. Now you have two choices that will allow the image to fade, as you describe. You can set the "feathering" of the Marquee Tool to a selected number of pixels in the tool Options toolbar (at the top of the screen by default in v 7-8). You may need to experiment with this setting to get what you want. The other yields the same result, but I feel has more visual control. Establish your Selection as above, but with the Feather set to 0-5 pixels. Once made to the dimensions you desire, in the shape you desire, turn on Quick Mask. There you can use any number of Blur(s) to soften the edges. I’d start with a Gaussian, and check the preview panel to see the effect. There, you can use Edit>Fade to cut back, should you have blurred too much, or Ctrl-Z and start over. When you have what you want, make your Selection a Layer Mask for the image Layer.

To exhibit this vignette effect with transparency, you will need to Save your image in GIF format for the Web w/ transparency.

Hope this helps.

Hunt
J
jjs
Jul 24, 2004
In article ,

I am trying to use a oval picture for a web page and want it to fade to transparent all the way around. I know I will need to use a mask but am
not
sure of how to create a oval mask that will accomplish this.

One approach is to use CS’s built-in Action called "Vignette (selection)". It provides a fair example of one approach and might help in terms of instruction. You can hit the little arrow just to the left of the action’s title, then double-click on the step called ‘Fill’ and change the transparency. Then make a selection, press the button for the action, take a look at the outcome. I’m sure others here will step in with alternatives. Just my two-bits worth.

Good Luck,
jjs
T
tacitr
Jul 24, 2004
I am trying to use a oval picture for a web page and want it to fade to transparent all the way around.

Make it fade to the color of the Web page background, not to transparent.

If you want to make it fade to transparent, you have a problem. GIF transparency forbids this. GIF images can be completely transparent or completely opaque, but no in-between–no fading.

PNG allows a fade to transparent, but only a small handful of browsers support this; Internet Explorer does not. So most of your visitors won’t see it.


Art, literature, shareware, polyamory, kink, and more:
http://www.xeromag.com/franklin.html
PW
Pjotr Wedersteers
Jul 24, 2004
Tacit wrote:
I am trying to use a oval picture for a web page and want it to fade to transparent all the way around.

Make it fade to the color of the Web page background, not to transparent.

If you want to make it fade to transparent, you have a problem. GIF transparency forbids this. GIF images can be completely transparent or completely opaque, but no in-between–no fading.

PNG allows a fade to transparent, but only a small handful of browsers support this; Internet Explorer does not. So most of your visitors won’t see it.

If you save it using the Save for web option you can leave the original PSD as fading to transparent and select the colour you want to fade to under the matte option in the Save for web dialog.
Pjotr
T
tacitr
Jul 25, 2004
If you save it using the Save for web option you can leave the original PSD
as fading to transparent and select the colour you want to fade to under the matte option in the Save for web dialog.

The effect of doing this will be the same as making it fade to the background color of the Web page–that is, it will fade to a solid color, not to transparent.


Art, literature, shareware, polyamory, kink, and more:
http://www.xeromag.com/franklin.html
E
edjh
Jul 25, 2004
Tacit wrote:

If you save it using the Save for web option you can leave the original PSD
as fading to transparent and select the colour you want to fade to under the matte option in the Save for web dialog.

The effect of doing this will be the same as making it fade to the background color of the Web page–that is, it will fade to a solid color, not to transparent.
You can’t have translucence in gif, true, but you can fake it for some graphics using the technique on this page:

http://www.sover.net/~hannigan/lucyinthesky.html


Comic book sketches and artwork:
http://www.sover.net/~hannigan/edjh.html
Comics art for sale:
http://www.sover.net/~hannigan/batsale.html
N
noone
Jul 25, 2004
In article ,
says…
I am trying to use a oval picture for a web page and want it to fade to transparent all the way around.

Make it fade to the color of the Web page background, not to transparent.
If you want to make it fade to transparent, you have a problem. GIF transparency forbids this. GIF images can be completely transparent or completely opaque, but no in-between–no fading.

PNG allows a fade to transparent, but only a small handful of browsers
support
this; Internet Explorer does not. So most of your visitors won’t see it.

Art, literature, shareware, polyamory, kink, and more:
http://www.xeromag.com/franklin.html

Right you are! Sorry about not knowing that, but I’d never tried to Save a " vignetted" image to GIF, only outlined with transparent background. I see that GIF fades to white, then will allow transparency, but that is not what the OP wanted. I appreciate your pointing out of my error – if I’m ever called upon to do this, I NOW knoe what to do – thanks.

Only problem with using the page’s background color, is when the client changes their minds re: background color. I’ll just chalk it up as a billable expense! 🙂

Appreciate the correction,
Hunt
G
gmk
Nov 14, 2004
I’m looking for a good book or training site to explain masking. Thanks
D
Dick
Nov 14, 2004
Masking is similar to a masking tape where you want only a part to be afected by the brushes.
It can be what you select or outside of what you select. read the chapter on layers and on mascking in photoshop CS when it first comes open or PS7 Help menu.

"gmk" wrote in message
I’m looking for a good book or training site to explain masking. Thanks
L
Luke99s
Dec 18, 2006
I consider myself pretty good at Photoshop, but probably my weakest area has been in getting masks to work the way I want them to.

I have 3 layers. I want the shape in the top layer to knock out the 2nd layer revealing the 3rd layer (like looking through the 2nd layer at the third layer through a window in the shape of the 1st layer.)

Can anyone explain how to do this?
B
Bernie
Dec 18, 2006
Ctrl-click on the top layer, this will create a selection

Use this selection to create the mask on the second layer.
L
Luke99s
Dec 18, 2006
can you explain more?
B
Bernie
Dec 19, 2006
Ctrl-click on the layer in the layers palette, this creates a selection

You then use the selection to create a layer mask.

I’m not sure what more you want…

Have you read hte help file on those topics?
L
Luke99s
Dec 19, 2006
I’m not sure what version of Photoshop you are using, but ctrl does nothing in CS2 but allow you to select multiple layers in non succession.
AB
Arnor Baldvinsson
Dec 19, 2006
Hi Luke,

I have 3 layers. I want the shape in the top layer to knock out the 2nd layer revealing the 3rd layer (like looking through the 2nd layer at the third layer through a window in the shape of the 1st layer.)
Suggestion: Go to http://movielibrary.lynda.com/html/modPage.asp?ID=322 and watch the first two chapters of the CS2 channels and mask video or just the second one about masks. It’s about two hours (total) and it has a lot of stuff in it about masks and channels that I found very helpful. You can also buy a monthly subscription for $25 and get access to all of their stuff. I’m not affiliated with them in any way, just found them yesterday, but their stuff looks pretty good to me. The quality of the online video/audio is very good.


Arnor Baldvinsson
San Antonio, Texas
B
Bernie
Dec 19, 2006
I’m using CS

There must be a way to make a salection by clicking on the layer in CS2, maybe someone else can let you know what it is
GD
glen_deman
Dec 19, 2006
In CS2, you have to Ctrl+click on the thumbnail itself to make a selection.
L
Luke99s
Dec 19, 2006
holy crap you are right. wow, what a subtle but confusing change!
SS
susan_scott
Jul 29, 2008
I’m trying to find a good 3rd party masking program and was wondering what other folks are happy with. I’m not getting very good results with Fluid Mask using their trial version and I haven’t had great results with Photoshop’s extraction tool either… but it could be that I’m giving up too soon. So far my best results are with old fashioned painting, magic wand and refine edge, using channels, etc.
P
Phosphor
Jul 29, 2008
I have had good results with Knockout 2 by Corel (or whoever has it now) but the learning curve is somewhat steep (which means I have not mastered it yet).
AW
Allen_Wicks
Jul 29, 2008
…but it could be that I’m giving up too soon.

Probably. Extracting complex images takes painstaking effort no matter which tool is used. Personally I use Knockout2.
SS
susan_scott
Jul 29, 2008
Two votes for Knockout2. I will check that out —thanks!
PF
Peter_Figen
Jul 29, 2008
Actually three votes for KO, but a reserved one at best. I still think it’s the best application but it’s got bugs, particularly in the selection process, when you need to keep refining your selection, which is part of the "pre" knockout process, the selections can go haywire. It seems that zooming in and out sometimes makes it possible to continue modifying, but it’s random. The biggest question, of course, is about Corel. It does not appear that they are actively supporting the product and I wonder how long it will continue to work at all. I remember telling the folks at Ulimatte years ago that they couldn’t have chosen a worse company to license their technology to and they seemed oblivious to Corel’s reputation.
PM
Paul M Norman
Jul 29, 2008
Try onOne’s Mask Pro. I have had very good luck with it and like the interface very much.
KN
Ken_Nielsen
Jul 29, 2008
A thread about masking? Since no one else will mention it, I will: The Pen Tool.
SS
susan_scott
Jul 29, 2008
Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I will try them all.

Ken, I should have been more specific. I’m looking for something that excels in masking hair, smoke, trees, etc.
TC
Tony_Condello
Dec 18, 2008
Is Masking still used a lot in Photoshop. I don’t hear a lot of people talking about Masks in their design work. Does anyone out there use Masks. Do you find them helpful.
CC
Chris_Cox
Dec 18, 2008
Masks == selections, and layer masks. Yes, they are used heavily.
JJ
Jim_Jordan
Dec 18, 2008
You may think masking use is diminishing as certain aspects/tools of Photoshop have matured to offer automatic masking (for example: the red eye removal tool that intelligently knows where to correct a red circle).
P
Phosphor
Dec 18, 2008
I use masking all the time. An essential tool.
R
Ram
Dec 19, 2008
What Ed said.
SW
Scott_Weichert
Dec 19, 2008
Masks are as valuable as the Paintbrush. I couldn’t work without them.
M
moonliter
Dec 19, 2008
On Dec 18, 2:28 pm, wrote:
Is Masking still used a lot in Photoshop. I don’t hear a lot of people talking about Masks in their design work. Does anyone out there use Masks. Do you find them helpful.

I use masking when I’m coloring B&W art.
R
Ram
Dec 19, 2008
The OP has got to be the most bizarre question I’ve seen in these forums since I first visited them, back in 2002 or so.

Perhaps the only way the question makes any sense to me is to look at it from the point of view of someone overwhelmed by the Photoshop learning curve who hopes to be told he doesn’t really have to learn masks.

In more ways than one, I can sympathize with that. I was overwhelmed at a certain point too, until I found relief in the realization that, using Photoshop strictly as my digital darkroom, I could defer digging into anything having to do with CMYK for later, when I had a grasp of what was essential to me first.

I don’t think I could have postponed learning about masks at all.

I’m glad Scott Weichert, Ed Hannigan and Phos chimed in to reinforce the need for masks outside of photography too.
JJ
John Joslin
Dec 19, 2008
One reason behind the question may be the fact that quite a few of the more recent tools in effect do their own masking by intelligent analysis of the image. Thus masking as a discrete technique is not mentioned as often as it used to be.
DK
Doug_Katz
Dec 19, 2008
Ramón, do not concern yourself. We ALL use masks. Every day. As much as ever. Maybe more than ever. Can you imagine what impressions we’d make without them? TMI. Perish the thought. Everyone needs to hide something… for their own good and for ours.

How to Master Sharpening in Photoshop

Give your photos a professional finish with sharpening in Photoshop. Learn to enhance details, create contrast, and prepare your images for print, web, and social media.

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