I feel really dumb but..

[Shari]

Can someone please explain exactly a layer mask is? I don't understand when people talk about using a mask. I have looked in Scott's book and there is a section but it does not say what a mask is? I have tried some sites on the net. I feel stupid being around here for as many months as I have but... I also looked in wendy's tuts and she talks about using Grants tools but I have not figured out how to download them - I just would like in simple english what a mask or layer mask is? Thank you anybody.

[Wendy]

Hi Shari ...

In very simple terms ... a layer mask is something you use to hide part of an image. So lets say make a selection the paste it into an image then decided that you want to get rid of part of it you can use a mask to do just that. OK so you could erase it ... but the advantage of a mask is that you can alway change your mind and reveal the hidden part again ...

Its mask in the sense of mask it out ..

To download Grant's tools just go here ... and click on downloads :)

http://www.cavesofice.org/~grant/Challenge/Tools/index.html

If you look in Wendy's Mini Tutorials (http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3641) you will see a mini tut on using the layer mask. Here is a link to it :

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4601

Wendy

[Ward Grant]

A mask is simply a way to hide/expose part of a picture to apply an effect. The underlying pixels are not changed, as when you erase part of a picture, so it is easy to change the part of the picture you are exposing/hiding.

On a non-digital reference, image you are on a beach and find a star fish in the sand. You can remove part of the sand to show more of the starfish, cover it back up, expose only one point, etc. by adding/removing sand. The starfish would be your image and the sand would be a mask.

[Daviskw]

Shari

Just so you know... you do not need Grants tools to use masks, although it makes things easy.

You can hijack masks from adjustment layers or you can make clipping masks that work just as good, if a few more steps.

Butch

[Shari]

I did download Grant's tools but I don't know what to do with them next. Where do I put them? How do I use them? I guess the reason I had not tried to download before was because I thought I had enough on my plate just learning this programme and I was doing a slide show with hundreds of photos as well.
Thank you for explaining mask though. It is like years ago when people mentioned fonts, the mouse etc. - when it is all new - it is all new!!

[kevq]

Shari,
if you go back to Grants page where you downloaded the tools, there are instructions on how to install them.

Kev

[Shari]

Thanks Kev

[mel]

ooops should have read this post first before I replied to the other one :eek: :o

Thanks guys for explaining. I had also already downloaded Grants tool but haven't loaded them into elements yet because I don't really know how to use them as yet.

See Shari, I'm learning from your questions again :)

Mel

[MikeH]

there are instructions on how to install them.

Grant's instruction are very good... nice and simple to understand.

Mike