Using Layer Masks for Border Edges

[GlennK]

My question relates to the proper (or preferred) method of creating interesting border edges on photos using layer masks. Thanks to the excellent threads in this forum and a great search feature, I've learned that layer masks are not directly accessible in "out of the box" PSE but can be accessed via an adjustment layer.

Dave's video in the Learning Center uses a temporary layer mask -- once the desired effect/filter is applied to the mask, the mask is selected (marching ants) and the mask is discarded. This effectively makes a custom selection to use on a copy of image to then cut out the inverse area and show the cool new edge over a white background (like using the cookie cutter but with an edge derived from a filter).

Wendy previously mentioned a good layer mask tutorial by Janee at http://www.myjanee.com/tuts/edges/e3edges.htm This tut uses a layer mask that is grouped to the original photo (not a copy), and as in the PET video, the filter is applied to the mask; however, the mask remains as one of the layers to continue doing its job of masking the photo.

A very long-winded lead-in to ask a simple question: Do either of these methods have any obvious advantages over the other? Each will get you to the same place, and drop shadows seems to work OK for each. I'm just a little confused as to which is the preferred method.

And the really dumb question: In Dave's video, he places the cursor in the adjustment layer and by using Shift + Alt and click, the layer mask appears in a reddish transparency over the image layer. Is this a layer shortcut? I have not be able to find any info on this, but think it's pretty neat.

Thanks ~~ Glenn

[TonyW]

I guess the short answer is that there are usually several (and often many) ways of achieving the same thing in PSE. Which is preferred, I guess, comes down to which one you get used to using - that makes it a bit confusing for some although, as a natural experimenter, it doesn't bother me at all :)

As for those mask shortcuts, they were in the PSE2 User guide and they are in the PSE3 Help file (although it's a real challenge to find them). Look for the section titled: "To edit the layer mask for an adjustment or fill layer". There are three useful ones. Alt-click puts the mask itself in the editor window (so you can paste images into it), Alt-Shift-click toggles the red mask, Shift click turns the mask off (very useful to quickly see the effect)

And there are no dumb questions. It took me a long while to find out about that Alt-click and I never did know about the Alt-Shift click.

I use layer masks all the time, either the adjustment layer ones or the PET Extra one that you can add to any layer. I just got through using shadows/highlights to fix up some outdoor night shots. Works great but needed to be applied selectively - just add a layer mask and you can just paint out the areas you don't want to be affected.

Tony

[Wendy]

Hi there ...

As Tony says Elements has lots of ways to acheive things and generally you tend to find one that you are comfortable with and use that one most of the time. ... :)


Wendy

[TimS]

OK, here's a quick way for Borders in PSE lacking layer masks!
Add a new layer above the image you want to apply the border to. Set the Blending Mode for this layer to SCREEN. Fill this new layer with Black. Now paint around the edges with Whire using any brush. Using the brush at medium opacity will yield semi-transparent borders, at 100% opacity it'll render the border completely transparent.

[Wendy]

Hi Tim ...

I have a problem with this ... I must be missing something. I fill the new layer with black and set to screen but if I then paint on that layer in white I just get a white border ?




Wendy

[TimS]

Wendy,
I was assuming that the effect required was for a conventional border in which the "background" around the border would be White. The advantage of this method is that you can use any brush to paint the white, at any opacity, giving a textured border without the need to us a layer mask... but yes, you will end up with a simple white border.. (as you would with conventional white photographic paper). You can also use any filter on the Screen layer... some of the Pixelate and Distort filters work brilliantly with this method for some really doody borders.
Cheers

[Wendy]

Hi Tim ...

Thanks for the additional information ... it was the use of the word transparent in the original post that caused the confusion :)


Wendy

[GlennK]

Thank you all for your guidance. I realize my question was really a preference question (and subjective one) rather than a "how-do-I-do X" question, and hope it wasn't a bother.

Tony -- Thanks for the quick tut on the three mask edit methods. I'm sure I'd be scrolling through Help for the next decade looking for those tips!

Glenn