Masks
Masks were the hardest thing for me to understand and they are one of the most simple thing to use. Since I have learned how they are my favorite thing to use. People are really confused when trying to use them though so I am going to try and do a really simple tutorial using a mask that came with psp x.
Open up a picture that you have made or gotten off the internet. It can be anything that you like. Not a tube but a picture. jpg
I used one I made.
Next add a new layer by going to layers, new raster layer or going over to the layer palette and click on the little paper symbol to bring a new raster up.
Now fill that layer with a solid color. Preferably one that you have picked from your picture and that will go with your picture.
You have to have a solid layer to make a mask. Your mask will go over a solid layer. It doesn't have to be a solid color. It could be another picture but the whole layer must have something on it if you want your full mask to show.
When you have your solid layer over your picture, you won't be able to see the picture. The white is the color on top of the picture. See over in the layers palette how the picture is still there but underneath?
Now, go to Layers-Load/Save Mask-Load Mask From Disk. The other options will be greyed out so you will just pick the only option available to you.
You will get a popup box. On the left there is a mask. There is also an arrow that you can click on where your default masks are that come with the program. Click on that and choose a mask. If you don't like the one you choose just back out with your green arrow and start over. This is one that comes with the program.
You will use the options-
Fit To Canvas
Source Luminance
Show All of Mask-I know mine says different there but tick show all mask
And here is the important part. You see how the mask to the left in the small window is white in the middle and black around the edges? You want to tick invert if you have white in the center and you want the center of your picture to show. Whatever is masked with black will show through. Whatever is white will be covered. So remember black goes away-white stays. Click ok and your mask will be on your picture. As blondii so aptly put it. You need to feed your mask. In other words there has to be a layer to make a mask.
See below is the mask on the picture. To the right in the layers palette you will see the mask has made extra layers.
You need to right click in your layer palette and merge and then merge group, from the flyout. This will pull your mask layer all together. That's it. Just right click and merge-merge visible and save as a jpg.
Below is a different mask, with a different color then after I merged the mask group I used Effects-Texture Effects-Texture, and put a small texture on it. You can click through the textures and get some really wild effects. You can also texture your solid layer before you choose the mask.
This tut is copyrighted to the tut owner(me-Red), it would be nice if you want to use it to ask permission, just a thought.
Open up a picture that you have made or gotten off the internet. It can be anything that you like. Not a tube but a picture. jpg
I used one I made.
Next add a new layer by going to layers, new raster layer or going over to the layer palette and click on the little paper symbol to bring a new raster up.
Now fill that layer with a solid color. Preferably one that you have picked from your picture and that will go with your picture.
You have to have a solid layer to make a mask. Your mask will go over a solid layer. It doesn't have to be a solid color. It could be another picture but the whole layer must have something on it if you want your full mask to show.
When you have your solid layer over your picture, you won't be able to see the picture. The white is the color on top of the picture. See over in the layers palette how the picture is still there but underneath?
Now, go to Layers-Load/Save Mask-Load Mask From Disk. The other options will be greyed out so you will just pick the only option available to you.
You will get a popup box. On the left there is a mask. There is also an arrow that you can click on where your default masks are that come with the program. Click on that and choose a mask. If you don't like the one you choose just back out with your green arrow and start over. This is one that comes with the program. You will use the options-
Fit To Canvas
Source Luminance
Show All of Mask-I know mine says different there but tick show all mask
And here is the important part. You see how the mask to the left in the small window is white in the middle and black around the edges? You want to tick invert if you have white in the center and you want the center of your picture to show. Whatever is masked with black will show through. Whatever is white will be covered. So remember black goes away-white stays. Click ok and your mask will be on your picture. As blondii so aptly put it. You need to feed your mask. In other words there has to be a layer to make a mask.
See below is the mask on the picture. To the right in the layers palette you will see the mask has made extra layers.
You need to right click in your layer palette and merge and then merge group, from the flyout. This will pull your mask layer all together. That's it. Just right click and merge-merge visible and save as a jpg.
Below is a different mask, with a different color then after I merged the mask group I used Effects-Texture Effects-Texture, and put a small texture on it. You can click through the textures and get some really wild effects. You can also texture your solid layer before you choose the mask.
This tut is copyrighted to the tut owner(me-Red), it would be nice if you want to use it to ask permission, just a thought.
