Another silly question...

[beans0250]

Ok I don't know what this is called....I've done it once and can't remember how to do or even where I found it in the first place...so I will try to describe what it is that I am trying to do...hopefully somone will know what I'm talking about...

Ok, there is a tool or something that I used that you click and hold and it will create a black spot on one layer, and if you click the eye to make that layer with the black spot invisible it will show the layer that is right underneath that black spot...almost like a hole in the paper or something....I would like to use this again but for the life of me I can't remember where I even read how to do this....I hope this makes sense....thanks in advance for the help!!!

Chrissy

[ATR]

Right now, an answer does not pop out. So, unless this triggers someone else's memory......

Maybe, it might be easier if you decribed the end result that you are looking for and then let the Forum Users supply ways to get there. You will find that often there are more than one way to obtain the same effect.

ATR

[Wendy]

Doesn't ring any bells with me :(

Wendy

[Elemobe]

Chrissy, do you mean a "cut out", like a shape.

Not sure if I am making sense now!!

[kimi_boo]

I am thinking maybe.... layer mask and holding down the alt key to see what is in the mask? :o

Chrissy, gonna have to try and explain this one a little more. :)

[TonyW]

Closest thing would be a clipping mask. Put a shape layer (which could look like a black spot) under the image. Then with the image layer selected Group with Previous (or Ctrl-G). Now the image will only show through the shape. But you'll need to have both eyeballs on to make that way work :)

Tony

[ATR]

OK, a possibility just surfaced in my memory. What about this scenario?

Two layers with two different photos.
Photo 1 on Background Layer. Photo 2 on Layer 1 above the Background.
Your foreground color is black, and your background color is white.
Layer 1 is active.
Next, you select the Rectangle Tool under the Shape Tools in the Toolbox.
Dragout your rectangle shape (you will get a black rectangle in the middle of Layer 1).
Control click the thumbnail of the Shape 1 Layer that was generated above Layer 1. Marching ants should be around the rectangle shape. Then discard the Shape 1 layer and go to Layer 1 and highlight it. Then hit DELETE.

The end result (image on screen) should be rectangle area with Background Layer portion. The surrounding area should be from Layer 1.

That is as close as I can come to what you described initially.

ATR

[Daviskw]

Hi there is the below effect what you are talking about? Click on the picture to see animation

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1bgKvEjSOuLMiBuU7wrKJ7KrtF1_thumb.gif (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1bgKvEjSOuLMiBuU7wrKJ7KrtF1)

If so Layer 0 is grouped...Layer>Group with previous..... with Layer 2 below

Layer 2 is a blank layer with a black square in the center... when it is off the water of layer 3 shows... when it is turned on it masks the water layer and allows layer 0 to show through where the black square is.

Butch

[Ellen]

Yipes Butch now you are animatedly helpful! That is cool.

[beans0250]

Thanks for all the help....it is kinda what I'm looking for....I will try the ideas and see if I can come up with the right now...It is hard to remember all this when just starting with PE....there's soooo much

Thanks again!!

[beans0250]

I finally got it....it was the gradient tool and set from background to transparent......woo hoo!!!!!

Thanks for the help!!!