Question on CS2

[Shari]

I have three books here and I am trying to read and learn something new. Yesterday I was doing a lesson on channels. I did the quick mask mode and saved it as an alpha channel in the channels palette. Then I went back to standard mode and my selection was outlined by marching ants. I was trying to figure how to get this selection into a layer. I am getting a bit confused here. Can anyone with CS2 please tell me if they use channels a lot and say - couldn't live without the function? When I save as an alpha channel it shows as a white selection with black background. I am mixed up as to where that goes and why it is not a colour selection. I can keep reading but I thought I would ask for some of your opinions before I get too frustrated with this - and then I have to read about paths!!! Thanks anyone.
Shari

[n692bc]

I can't help you with your question, but I just wanted to say I love your "awakeing leaves" picture. It's really breath taking, so I got to ask, how did you do it?

thanks
ross

[TonyW]

Shari: I've used them but I don't know enough to be able to explain them other than they do let you do some things that you can't do in Elements. When you figure it out you can give me a lesson :) And have fun with paths they are very useful and I think a bit easier to understand than channels. BTW Elements has channels but usually you can't see them - if you saved that alpha channel selection in a psd file and opened the file in Elements it would show up if you went to Load selection as an Alpha channel.

Tony

[seebee]

You know, I recently bought Scott Kelby's Channels book, and I gotta tell you: it's going to be the one book where I'm going to have to sit down & actually do the tutorials step by step with the pictures, I think. I just can't seem to totally process it by just reading it. Some of it I get, but after reading, when I went back to my computer and tried to apply my new-found knowledge without the book handy, I messed up and/or got lost! IOW, I think channels can be a bit difficult to grasp! :D I'm determined to get there, though.

[Shari]

First, thank you for the compliment Ross. I used the buzz simplifyer. Here is the site. I just downloaded the trial version. I find when some of my images are just a little ordinary I like to use a little buzz.
http://graphicssoft.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.fo2pix.com

Tony, if you don't use them a lot and feel you could learn something - I know I am in way over my head. I think I will hold off on channels for now. I need to work with things that make me happy and satisfied to get my mind off my own troubles. Seebee I have been the type of person that wants to just go ahead and try things myself (and it means I miss a lot of the tips of what the programme can do). This week I actually inserted one of the CD's that came with the books and downloaded a lesson and the photographs and was amazed at how much I learned. Two of these are library books so I am making notes and that helps as well. I just have to pretend I am in school and spend a few hours each day learning something. Oh to have the brain and memory when I was young and working!!!
Shari