Q: Adjusting a layer mask, non-permanently (Photoshop CS)

D
Posted By
Demolisher
Sep 7, 2004
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403
Replies
4
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Closed
Let’s say you have a layer with a layer mask. The layer mask contains a gradient like image (white to black to white) causing partical visibility of some of the image data in the layer it masks. Now, say you want to tweak the gradient mask using a Levels adjustment layer. You create such a layer and put it above the masked layer in question. However, the adjustment layer applies to the image data and not the layer mask.

– Is it possible to have the adjustment layer apply only to the layer mask and not the actual image data?
– Is there a better/easier way to achieve the same effect? The effect being to use a level adjusment layer to tweak the mask applied to a layer containing image data. I’ve tried several things including layer clipping groups, but cannot achieve the same effect as a layer mask.

Thanks,

Mike
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O
Odysseus
Sep 7, 2004
In article <413de480$0$32570$>,
"Demolisher" wrote:

Let’s say you have a layer with a layer mask. The layer mask contains a gradient like image (white to black to white) causing partical visibility of some of the image data in the layer it masks. Now, say you want to tweak the gradient mask using a Levels adjustment layer. You create such a layer and put it above the masked layer in question. However, the adjustment layer applies to the image data and not the layer mask.

– Is it possible to have the adjustment layer apply only to the layer mask and not the actual image data?

Not that I know of.

– Is there a better/easier way to achieve the same effect? The effect being to use a level adjusment layer to tweak the mask applied to a layer containing image data. I’ve tried several things including layer clipping groups, but cannot achieve the same effect as a layer mask.

What I usually do in a case like this is duplicate the mask as an extra channel before messing with it (whether with adjustments, noise/blurs, or retouching), so I can substitute a ‘fresh’ version from this backup as may be required. But there could well be a better way …

—
Odysseus
B
bogus
Sep 7, 2004
Here is one thing you can try.

Option click on the layer mask in the Layers palette. (Alt click with PC) This will turn all layers off and show only the layer mask in the image window for you to edit. You can apply filters, adjustments, etc to the mask. When you are done, click on the image icon in the layers palette to get back to reqular view.

If you wanted to take this a step further, copy the image in the layer mask, go back to the regular view and paste. This will put a copy of the layer mask as a layer. You could put an adustment layer to this. When you get things to your liking, copy the layer only, Option (Alt) click on the layer mask icon in the layers palette, then paste. It’s an extra step but it does what you want.

dp

Odysseus wrote:
In article <413de480$0$32570$>,
"Demolisher" wrote:

Let’s say you have a layer with a layer mask. The layer mask contains a gradient like image (white to black to white) causing partical visibility of some of the image data in the layer it masks. Now, say you want to tweak the gradient mask using a Levels adjustment layer. You create such a layer and put it above the masked layer in question. However, the adjustment layer applies to the image data and not the layer mask.

– Is it possible to have the adjustment layer apply only to the layer mask and not the actual image data?

Not that I know of.

– Is there a better/easier way to achieve the same effect? The effect being to use a level adjusment layer to tweak the mask applied to a layer containing image data. I’ve tried several things including layer clipping groups, but cannot achieve the same effect as a layer mask.

What I usually do in a case like this is duplicate the mask as an extra channel before messing with it (whether with adjustments, noise/blurs, or retouching), so I can substitute a ‘fresh’ version from this backup as may be required. But there could well be a better way …
T
tacitr
Sep 8, 2004
– Is it possible to have the adjustment layer apply only to the layer mask and not the actual image data?

No. Adjustment layers work only on image data; you can not apply an adjustment layer to a mask. A layer mask is a special case of an alpha channel. You can not work in layers in any alpha channel or derivative thereof, including layer masks and spot channels.

– Is there a better/easier way to achieve the same effect? The effect being to use a level adjusment layer to tweak the mask applied to a layer containing image data.

The best you can do is make a copy of the layer mask (as an ordinary alpha channel), so you can go back to it if you decide you don’t like what you’ve done.

—
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FA
Fred Athearn
Sep 9, 2004
On Tue, 07 Sep 2004 17:18:56 -0400, bogus wrote:

You can apply filters,
adjustments, etc to the mask. When you are done, click on the image icon in the layers palette to get back to reqular view.

Of course this does not give you an adjustment *layer* you can click on to reopen and retweak. But you can get almost the same effect, at least for curves or levels. Just again alt click the mask and use alt-cont-M or alt-cont-L to reopen the most recent of those adjustments where you were before to make changes.

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