Layers attempt

[kellyLynne]

I am learning layers,thanks to your help. This is an attempt below...

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=14sbl2OQ0ZS8r053SfqepnLiQuYoLe (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=14sbl2OQ0ZS8r053SfqepnLiQuYoLe)

Still not understanding masks though, what are they for?

[GaryK]

Great job Kelly.

Masks are sooo cool.
They allow you to "erase or hide" effects but are totally reversible.

Try this for fun.. this is what got me sort of going on them although for you it may be something else.

open a photo
duplicate the background (that is just me)
add a levels adjustment layer on top of the stack.
drag one of the sliders out of position quite a bit
click on the little white box to the right of the adj layer.

Now paint with black.. whatever you did in the levels adjustment will dissapear wherever you paint black. If you don't like what happened switch to white and paint over the spot with that...effect back.:)
You can see the black and white on the little white mask box.

Try it with a hue/sat adjustment layer or a colour one.

[JulieM]

KellyLynne,

That is fantastic! How did you do the wings?

[NMarti]

You did a fantastic job with that image. One of my main reason for layers is you can make multiple adjustments and if something doesn't look right 30 adjustments down the line, you simply delete that layer. Otherwise, you are stuck with it and have to start over. Each different thing you do should get it's own layer (there are a few exceptions) so it can be undone at any time. You can check if you like it better with or without the adjustment by simply clicking the "eye" on each layer to see what effect it will have on the overall image too. Can't do that if it's all done on your original.

[christellf]

Your photo is awesome. For just learning layers you are doing great.
Keep it up & have fun.
Christell

[Diana]

KellyLynne,

I love your reflection image. You did a great job and I love your creativity with it.

Diana

[kellyLynne]

Thanks, my biggest fear is that it will look crappy when i print it out. The wings i found on a free paintbrush site.

As far as masks go, i tried the painting with black thing...it only paints black or nothing at all, so either im doing it wrong, or maybe pse4 cant do that?

I went to a tutorial on masks and layering, was a video, the guy clicked on new layer, then ended up with his mask right beside it, i couldnt do that, so i just keep searching for other tutorials.

Also, dam if i couldnt do the "break-out" effect from the tutorial I saw, i had to do it wayyyyy different, and a much harder way. But I am very happy to see that the net, and this group offers so much info, eventually, with this info, it will click in my head (and then Ill be going to the chiropractor for computer related back ache, lol)

I will try to find the link to the wings i got, and post them, hopefully i bookmarked that site.

[GaryK]

Hi Kelly

Most tutorials you find will be for full photoshop unless specifically stated otherwise. So workarounds are inevitable but they do help learn the program.:)
The only masks elements has built in, are the ones on the adjustemnt layers. There are 3rd party ones available that work basically the same as photoshop's but you can also hijack the ones from adjustment layers.

If you had black show up on your screen then you must have not clicked the mask in the adjustment layer. A little border appears around it when it is selected... easy enough to miss.:)

[kellyLynne]

Never thought of layers that way, i mean, each new thing I do should be on a seperate layer...it makes total sense, thank you.

[kellyLynne]

Ive only really ever used layers for colorization, i love all this new stuff im learning.

[kellyLynne]

okay, so i have my background on the bottome, above it i have a layer, and in same box, to the right of layer, would be my mask, and you are saying that i can click on the mask individually? heck im gonna try that now.

[kellyLynne]

is there anyway to share brushes i have downloaded? I was going to look for the site where I got the wing brushes, but can't find it, thought id ask in case anyone wants the brushes.

[GaryK]

Kelly

Did you get the mask thing to work?

Natively, elements only has the mask in/with adjustment layers.

Once you get that sorted we can work on either an addon, or just hijacking the adj. layer so you can use the mask on any layer.

[NMarti]

"is there anyway to share brushes i have downloaded?"

You need to check the site where you got it. They may forbid you to share it with others if it was a pay site. If it was free, you can simply add the link here and they can go get the brush if they want it and will probably download a lot more (I usually do). :D You can also just offer to share it and then email it to those wanting it (again if it was free and there are no restrictions)

[elwoodsusanm]

This is lovely.:) Where can we find the brushes for the wings please?

[Diana]

There are several links to wing brushes in this post (at the bottom) but I don't remember seeing the one that Kelly used.

http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/showpost.php?p=339323&postcount=29

Diana