Add Layer Mask

[Stringbean]

Purchased a copy of Matt Kloskowski’s book “Layers” and find it very informative. My problem is that I only have PSE4 and can’t do many of the exercises. In PSE4 there is no-Add Layer Mask- icon. Is there any way around this in PSE4? I understand that PSE6 and 7 both have curves included and I’m wondering what else has been added. Add Layer mask maybe?

[Wendy]

Hi ...

There isn't a layers mask in Elements (any version) ... but you can add one using Grant's Tools :)

Wendy

[Stringbean]

Wow, That was a quick response. You must be up late there in the UK.
How and where can I download that tool. Never tried to download one of Grants tools. Where would it go to on my XP?
Thank you for the reply Wendy:)

[Stringbean]

Wow, That was a quick response. You must be up late there in the UK.
How and where can I download that tool. Never tried to download one of Grants tools. Where would it go to on my XP?
Thank you for the reply Wendy:)

Think I answered my own question.

http://www.viddler.com/explore/jackstechcorner/videos/23/

Now I just have to figure out what he's saying:)

[Zeria]

Hi

Just a follow-up to Wendy's post. I have Matt Kloskowski's book and with Grant's layer mask installed, you should be able to do most (if not all) of the exercises.

Grant's tools here (http://www.cavesofice.org/~grant/Challenge/Tools/Files.html)-----also look for his installation video

Hope that helps:)

[jjvera00]

Another place to get a free layer mask is to download the demo version of Elements+ (http://simplephotoshop.com/elementsplus/index.htm). If you like it, then you can download the entire set for $12 and have tons of features that re not normally accessable on Elements.

[Stringbean]

Thank you Zeria & Jivera. Will follow up on your suggestions. I just have to understand the download process and getting it into Elements4.
Thank's again:)

[Sepiana]

Hi,

I also have PSE4 and Grant's Tools were the first actions I ever installed. It was a piece of cake. If you follow this (http://www.cavesofice.org/~grant/Challenge/Tools/HowtTo.html), there is no margin for error.

[jjvera00]

Thank you Zeria & Jivera. Will follow up on your suggestions. I just have to understand the download process and getting it into Elements4.
Thank's again:)

The one good thing about Elements+ is that it is self installing. All you got to do is download the file, then click install and it does it all by itself :)

[Stringbean]

Have been trying to figure this out for over an hour but it makes no sense to me. Have the download (Filezip) on my desktop but can't get past that. I must be dumb :o

[Sepiana]

Hi,

To unzip the folder do this:

Right-click on the zipped folder. Click on Extract All. This opens the Zipped Folders Extraction Wizard. Follow the instructions.

[jjvera00]

Have been trying to figure this out for over an hour but it makes no sense to me. Have the download (Filezip) on my desktop but can't get past that. I must be dumb :o

Which file did you download? Grant's Toole or Elements+?

[Stringbean]

I should mention that I use Filzip a freeware program. Managed to download it via - Program Files - Adobe - PhotoShop Elements - Previews - Effects. It seems to have downloaded alright but I can’t find it. :confused:

Used these instructions. Elements 4.
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pselements/qt/layermasktool.htm

[Stringbean]

I should mention that I use Filzip a freeware program. Managed to download it via - Program Files - Adobe - PhotoShop Elements - Previews - Effects. It seems to have downloaded alright but I can’t find it. :confused:

Used these instructions. Elements 4.
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pselements/qt/layermasktool.htm

When I open Explorer and follow the path in the above post I find -Layer Mask- and when I click on it it opens Elements Editor. After putting a photo into the editor I see the Layer Mask at the bottom of the screen and not at the right under Layers. How do I work with it this way? I’m getting close!! :)

[Sepiana]

Hi,

After you unzipped the file, did you put the whole Layer Mask folder in Effects, or just its contents? You need the whole folder containing a .psd file and an .atn file. It should then show up in the Styles and Effects palette in its own category.

Just another thought. Did you remember to do the step below according to the instructions?


Next, go to the folder Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\Previews\Cache\Effects Cache and delete the following three files before restarting Photoshop Elements:
CatagoryCache.che
ListCache.che
ThumbNailCache.che


EDIT: Try opening PSE4 and locating the Layer Mask in the Effects palette, instead of going down the path and right-clicking on it.

[Stringbean]

Went through the whole thing once again including checking Styles & Effects. Deleted -
CatagoryCache.che
ListCache.che
ThumbNailCache.che .

Not having any luck again. Will try and see if it works by working through Explorer to Layer masks. Might work. Getting tired of it right now.
Sepiana- I really appreciate your help.

[la2uk]

Hiya all: My first post and already causing problems.:confused:
I have been reading though a great deal of these posts and could never suss why I could not find half the tools [slight exaggeration]
"Grants tools" are an exceptional bonus and I would be delighted if I could sort this mess out for PSE5 .
I have winrar installed and therefore any zip/.exe folder is extracted through there. When I try to unzip the folder I get the following attached error message. I have used both videos and each time with the same results:(
Does anyone by chance know what it is I am doing wrong? Your help is greatly appreciated as well as kind words to stroke my now deflated ego

Cheers
Rio

[Stringbean]

Just did a search here in Elements Village and found a tutorial by Grant on installing. When he get's to Effects he says to copy the whole Effects folder. I'm wondering if this is where I went wrong. If so how to copy folder and to where? Not sure if his tutorial works for PSE4.

[la2uk]

Just did a search here in Elements Village and found a tutorial by Grant on installing. When he get's to Effects he says to copy the whole Effects folder. I'm wondering if this is where I went wrong. If so how to copy folder and to where? Not sure if his tutorial works for PSE4.to copy folder click edit. from the dropdown menu choose move folder to C:/programData/Adobe/photoshop Elements 4.0. You are also going to have to make sure that your hidden folders are revealed.

[Stringbean]

Think I will step back from this for a while. Have been trying to understand this for three days and still don't get it. Guess I'm too b****y old to understand. :o

[Sepiana]

Hi Stringbean, you're not giving up. Just be patient. I can still remember, when I tried to install my first action, how frustrated I got. But I cried for help and I got it in this wonderful forum. Now, I'm addicted to actions.:D

This is exactly what I did when I installed Grant’s tools -- Abbreviated Tools -- in PSE4 (Windows XP). It worked!

NOTE: Before installing any action make sure PSE is closed.

1. Download Grant’s Tools PSE4.zip file and save it in a folder of your choice.

2. Right-click on the downloaded folder and select Extract All…

3. Run the Compressed (Zipped) Folder Extraction Wizard.

4. Now copy this unzipped folder to: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 4.0\Previews\effects

5. Go to: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 4.0\Previews\Cache\Effects Cache, and delete these three files:

Catagorycache.che
Listcache.che
Thumbnailcache.che

6. Go to: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 4.0\Previews\Cache\Filters Cache, and delete these three files:

Catagorycache.che
Listcache.che
Thumbnailcache.che

NOTE: Don’t worry! When you open PSE, these files will be recreated.

7. Open PSE. In the Styles and Effects palette, select Effects > Grant’s Tools PSE4.

[Stringbean]

Sepiana -Did a search -Start- Search - and found that everything was indeed on my system. Clicked on the link and everything is there in Elements4. Saw everything there including the mask. The problem now is - how do I find it when I’m in the editor? I don’t see the layer mask. I’m still trying to hang on to my sanity! :confused:

[Sepiana]

Stringbean,

You are talking about the Layer Mask you dowloaded from graphicssoft.about.com, aren't you? I just to want to make sure. If that's the action, I've just downloaded and installed it using that website instructions. Everything went fine, without any glitches. To find it: Open PSE, go to Editor, go to the Styles and Effects Palette > Effects > Layer Mask.

If you followed the same directions I did, it should work. I just don't know what the problem is. My capabilities are limited. I hope some of the experts will come along and provide the solution.

EDIT: Maybe you could post a screen shot of the path you followed all the way to where the Layer Mask folder is.

[Stringbean]

Stringbean,

You are talking about the Layer Mask you dowloaded from graphicssoft.about.com, aren't you? I just to want to make sure. If that's the action, I've just downloaded and installed it using that website instructions. Everything went fine, without any glitches. To find it: Open PSE, go to Editor, go to the Styles and Effects Palette > Effects > Layer Mask.

If you followed the same directions I did, it should work. I just don't know what the problem is. My capabilities are limited. I hope some of the experts will come along and provide the solution.

EDIT: Maybe you could post a screen shot of the path you followed all the way to where the Layer Mask folder is.
-----------

Did all that and no Layer mask. As mentioned in my last post when I did a search of my files using Grants Tools as the search word It was there. Clicked on the path from the search and got the mask in PSE4 but can’t find it when I go into the Editor in the normal way. Styles & Effects -Effects and no Mask.
Seems to me that I have tried so many ways to download this thing that I don't remember where it came from.
When I place my curser over “Original” in effects there is a no entry sign and with all the other icons there is a hand with the finger pointing. The Original icon is blocked.

I don't think there is any problem with your capabilities. It's me that's the problem. :o

Thank you for the help Sepiana.