How to use Masks Tutorial

[Daviskw]

Here is a video I made on using layer masks in PSE3 and 4.0

Now if I could get my mouth to form the same words I’m trying to say. Please forgive the audio in the tutorial :rolleyes:

Googles video quality is poor but it should still give you a few ideas

Butch

Mask Video on Google
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7723020561810181483&pr=goog-sl

[kevq]

Butch,
have just had a look at the video.
It is very good and should really help people who are having trouble understanding masks.
Thanks very much for taking the time and effort to make this instructive video.
Kev.

[GaryK]

Butch

Great job... really explained it well:)

Thanks.

[karen donnybrook]

Butch, I have just watch the video and it was brilliant. Thanks very much.

[Byron Gale]

Here is a video I made on using layer masks in PSE3 and 4.0...
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7723020561810181483&pr=goog-sl

Butch,

Very nicely done.

Those methods are directly applicable to PSE1 and PSE2 as well.

The one exception is that, in PSE1, pressing CTRL-0 does not resize to show the extended handles of the Move or Transform tool.

Of course, neither of those earlier versions include the Photo Bin, of which you make excellent use.

Byron

[mrod]

Great job, Butch. You have a pleasant voice to listen to. You also do a nice job of thinking and talking on the fly. Either that or you're an amazing script writer!

And...I LOVED your analogy of the mask being a window between the adjustment layer and the layer below!!! I've struggled to explain masks to my 8th grade students, and I think that one may work!

Remind me again what program you use to produce your videos? Was it Camtasia? That's the one I use...I haven't explored it much...I learned what I needed to learn to record and produce basic, no-frills videos...but, the zooming intrigues me...

Where do you record? In a dedicated room? I do most of mine in my classroom, or my downstairs basement if I am working at home. And of course, it never fails that the phone will be sure to ring when I'm recording, or someone will make an annoucment over the PA system, or one the kids will bound downstairs looking for dad...:D

I do really enjoy them as a teaching tool. Just today one of my VERY unmotivated students (who is always late or absent) made a comment to a buddy that he "loved doing these video projects." I suppose that was a compliment, in a way. I guess it could also mean that a Live Me just doesn't cut it...:D :D

Mike

[rtronick]

Another great video Butch! Keep them coming!!

Randy T

[Daviskw]

Mike

Hi Mike and thank you for your kind words.

Yes I do use Camtasia, there is a very easy interface for zooming and callouts… the arrows and such.

No scripts here… I just get started and go. My problem is getting started I usually make most mistakes then.

I record in my living room that is why you can hear the clock chimes now and then. I do try to pick a time when I will not be disturbed.

I admire you…. 8th grade KIDS!!!! :eek: What a handful, but it does sound like you care about and sometimes enjoy your work.

Thanks to all for the kind words

Butch

[Bayla]

Butch,

My bedtime has been delayed as I got engrossed in your excellent video! Hope the new course that Matt has planned is as good!!!!

Thanks,

Bayla

[Netnut]

Butch---
Thank you for the brilliant video. It has made the concept of layer masks alot easier for me to understand. Watching you make the moves and explaining them has really helped me. Your video is greatly appreciated. I am anxious to start blending some of the photos I have wanted to blend but have not had the intestinal fortitude to attack. Again, a great big thank you.

[Shari]

I really would like to hear the video. I cannot get any volume - is there something I have to do. I checked the volume on my computer by playing one of my slide shows and it works for that. Thanks anyone.
Shari

[Dee Dee Warren]

Ohh this will be the next one I listen to... I am going through the colour part two tutorial right now, but this will be the next one I dedicate to

[Vesta]

Shari,

I was having trouble with the volume. In the lower right hand corner there is a slide move it as far to the right as you can and see if that helps. When I tried to play it I didn't have any sound either.

Vesta

[kevq]

Butch,
do you know if there is a way to save and play your superb video without having to come to the forum?
Kev:confused:

[mel]

Butch you did it again......another great video :)

http://img276.imageshack.us/img276/7919/thankyou9yq.th.jpg (http://img276.imageshack.us/my.php?image=thankyou9yq.jpg)

Watching these videos makes things so much easier to understand. Thank you for taking the time to make them :)

[Bayla]

Kev,

I wondered that too. The normal way of doing it doesn't seem to work for this type of file :(

Bayla

[Daviskw]

Hi All

If you are a Mac user you can download the file as an AVI... I'm not sure of the file size.

PC users have to download the Google Video Player. Then you can download and save the file to disk in a Google format. The Mask video saves at 72,276 KB

Here is a screen shot from Google.

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/8454/untitled14ir.th.jpg (http://img247.imageshack.us/my.php?image=untitled14ir.jpg)

and thanks Mel...now if i only had the talent to make thank yous like you!!

[mayva]

Thanks Butch...Great Video

Anna

[mom to 4]

Butch:

Great video! Thanks so much for doing it for us!

I do have a question though......you always say to paint white over to allow the layer below to show through. Why do you use white as opposed to using the eraser????? I guess if I had just started doing it on my own, I would have thought I should use the eraser..........................


thanks!

[Daviskw]

Hi Colleen

You could use the eraser on the mask but it always uses the background color to replace when you erase. That may change if you have say a green shade rather than black or white as the background color... it may be confusing. It is the color that counts and any color will work but will have varied opacities.

For instance black hides... but a dark green hides most but leaves a little it is the luminosity that counts.

Using black and white eliminates any doubt as to what is happening. You can always reduce the opacity of the white or black brush if you want faded results.

Butch

[Dee Dee Warren]

Wow I didn't know other colours worked on the masks, that could be interesting

[Daviskw]

Remember they do not give you colors just varied opacities as soon as you click on the mask they change to grayscale... you can not have colors on a mask but their luminosity values remain.


Butch

[Dee Dee Warren]

Yes I understand

[kevq]

Butch,
thank you, will try that.
Kev.

[Norm F]

Butch,

I also appreciated your layer mask video and learned a lot from it. Thanks for taking the time.

[Robyn]

Butch,

What a GREAT video. You have a natural talent for explaining how everything works. It was so clear and concise..........I think I've said this before, but you should be doing this as a paid job. Thank you so much, I look forward to your next one. :D

[kevq]

Butch,
have downloaded Google Video.
Now I can watch your excellent videos without going on line.
Can't wait to see your next one.
Thanks,
Kev.

[Shari]

Thanks Vesta. I had already done that and still no volume. I tried some of the videos in the subscriber area and the sound was no problem. Anyone have any ideas. I would really like to hear this. Thanks.
Shari

[Shari]

Oh I am so frustrated. I have watched the video with no sound and it looks like something I could really use. I have downloaded it. I have gone into help and I have the requirements, have turned down the sound on Quicktime and everything checks out. When I go into subscribers videos the audio works fine. Can anyone think of anything I have missed.
Shari

[Daviskw]

Wish I could help you Shari. I think the volume is a little low on the video but you should be able to hear it. Can you hear sound in any other Google video?

Maybe you need to download Googles player if you are using a PC.

Butch

[Shari]

Butch - that is the first Google Video I have downloaded and I did download Googles player. I think I have done everything they suggested in help. I guess I will try it a week from now. Funny things happed with computers and who knows maybe it will work then. I did see all you did and it looked to be exactly what I could use - but I would need some audio to follow.
Shari

[JillB]

Butch
Thank you thank you for a brilliant video. I have been struggling with understanding masks and I FINALLY got it after watching your video once. You have a real knack for explaining things clearly and your analogies made perfect sense. Jill

[karen donnybrook]

Butch, when I went to download the Google Video Player, I did not get that screen shot that you had in a previous post. Also, even though I have downloaded the GVP, I notice that I am still going onto the net to view the video. Is that what is supposed to happen?

Kev, can you really watch the video without being on the net?

[Bayla]

Karen

I have the same problem. Didn't have the same screenshot as Butch but managed to download Google Video Player anyway. When I try to open up the video I get an error message stating 'the file type is not supported'

Bayla

[karen donnybrook]

Bayla, I can access the video as long as I am on the net. Kev made it sound as though he was not on the net when he viewed the video after downloading :(

[Dee Dee Warren]

Butch, are the images you used available online anywhere? I would like to follow along with your images.

[Dee Dee Warren]

I finished just sitting and watching the video. It is excellent. I understand masks a whole lot better. I need now to use the video and try to do some of that work myself.

[Robyn]

Bayla, I can access the video as long as I am on the net. Kev made it sound as though he was not on the net when he viewed the video after downloading :(

Karen, that is correct. Once you have downloaded the video you don't need to be on the internet to view it.

[Bayla]

Robyn,

That's what I can't do. Like Karen I can only view the video as long as I'm connected to the internet.

Bayla

[Norm F]

Try the "Download" button on the right side of the screen. Clicking it produces an option, "Download the video manually." You will need to have the Google video viewer downloaded as well to view offline.

[karen donnybrook]

Norm, I will have another go but I thought I had done that. Will let you know how I get on - will not be until tomorrow (Saturday)

[Robyn]

Yes Bayla........I just did what Norm has said. It did take quite a long time to download though.

[karen donnybrook]

Robyn, how long was "quite a long time"? Maybe I did not wait long enough :D :eek:

[Robyn]

Karen it was about the length of the video - 20 minutes.

[karen donnybrook]

Thanks Robyn, I certainly was not that patient :eek: I will have another go tomorrow.

[wendy kelly budd]

Here is a video I made on using layer masks in PSE3 and 4.0

Now if I could get my mouth to form the same words I’m trying to say. Please forgive the audio in the tutorial :rolleyes:

Googles video quality is poor but it should still give you a few ideas

Butch

Mask Video on Google
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7723020561810181483&pr=goog-sl


My god, I love this video, thank you sooooo much.

ps, who is that cute sailor???

[Bayla]

Thanks Norm,

It worked perfectly and I can now watch it offline.

Bayla

[mom to 4]

I think there was some issue with the sound. I could hardly hear it when I played it the other day, but today I taped it and the sound worked perfectly.

[sydneysnana]

I loved the Video. Playing with it this morning, this is where I am. I've added flowers all around and was trying to fix the sky. Can anyone give me advise on how to work with the sky in the areas around their heads? I know there is a trick..... This is a work in progress the video was just so exciting I had to try- I know there are other areas to work but need this part before I put too much time in.
thanks
Michelle
http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=14gRG1VlXcqLBnaO43JqJpGd72bmT0

[Daviskw]

Hello All

Here is the actual link to Google help that I got the screen shot from.
http://video.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=26592&query=GVI&topic=0&type=f

The file size for PCs anyway is 73 megs so it will take a while to download. On my machine it buffers and plays the video as it downloads it to a Google video directory the installation made on my drive.

I do have a Windows zip file of the files used in the video it is 10 megs as well if anyone needs them I could email as long as I don't get too many requests. Send me a private message with your email address and I'll send it when I can.

Butch

[mom to 4]

Michelle:

I have always made sure the the sky layer would be underneath the layer with the people on it.

I have seen a thread on here about going to Layer>modify>expand then expand a few pixels (when you are on the people layer), an that does something to the edges to make them blend together better.......

Can you tell, I really don't know what I am talking about :o :o , I did do it only once and it did make a difference, but that was a while back. I am sure someone will be along in a few with much better answers......:o

[sydneysnana]

As soon as my Grand-daughter takes her nap, I'm back...this is soooo cool.:) :) :cool:
thanks

[Dorrie H.]

Butch,

First of all I must compliment you on your generosity for sharing your wonderful videos. Like everyone else has said, you do a fantastic job!! Thank you so very, very, much. They are so easy to understand.

Secondly I have a question regarding the GVP. I have downloaded it, but I'm not thoroughly understanding how it works. Hopefully someone can give me the answer I'm seeking. After downloading it, do you have to execute this file each time in order for it to play the video (on or off line). Also the only place I saw the Mask Video was under the File Menu of GVP. Do the videos always stay under the file menu or can the actual video be saved somewhere for save keeping. Am I missing something here.

Dorrie

[Montego]

Dorrie,
When I download Google videos, they usually save to desktop or to My Docs, but this last one disappeared.I found it in the My Video file.
It didn't show in Windows search but it comes up in Google desktop search.
Dave.

[Montego]

Dorrie,
Forgot to add, once you find it, it will play much like a QT movie.
Dave.

[Dorrie H.]

Dave, Thanks for your reply, but I still don't understand your answer to my question.

What I want to know is: Is there a separate video file for the "Mask Video" or just the Google Video Player that is downloaded. I'm not having any trouble locating the Google Video Player .exe file, just where the Mask tutorial file itself is. The only place I saw the "Mask Tutorial file" was under the file menu of the Google Video Player.

Currently I'm able to view the Mask Video off line by double clicking on the GVP.exe file, which goes through an install process each time I do this, and Once the Video Player opens up, I can then go to the file menu and click on "Masks and PSE 4.0.gvi" and the video will play just like a QT movie.

If this is how it works, then will the "Mask Tut" always be available under the Google Video Player File Menu?

What about other videos, will they be listed there also?

Hope I'm making myself clear.

Dorrie

[ktnoon60]

Butch I finally had time to watch you video, its was great! You voice is so nice and friendly, I had no problem with the sound.

Kt

[Daviskw]

When I installed the Google video player I made a subdirectory called Google Videos.

It is located in….." My Documents/My Videos"…… directory. It has a GVI extension and you do not need to be connected to watch.

If you do not download the player and click on Manual Download you only download a link to Google for the file and must be on line for it to work.

Butch

[Montego]

Dorrie,
I've installed the Google player and video onto my wife's laptop so that I could check how things fitted together.

After opening the link in Butch's first message I clicked on "install video player" on the Google bar along the top.This started the player download which went into "Local disk (C)>Programs>Google...."

After installation was completed, I downloaded the video which installed itself in " My Documents>My Videos>Google Videos" as "Masks and PSE".

To play video while not connected, just click on "masks and PSE".
The download also installed a shortcut icon on the desktop, but this can go into the recycle bin, as it's not needed.

Hope you can follow this and you get things set up.

Dave

[Dee Dee Warren]

Butch I got your email thanks! I haven't tried to open the attachment yet I will let you know.

[Dee Dee Warren]

The attachment opened great!

[Shari]

Butch - is there any way you could send me the video or suggest what I do. I have even gone through HP online help today and they were no help. I downloaded the player again - sound works on everything else. I really would like to be able to hear the video. When I click on the video player on my desk top and double click everything comes up fine but the audio. When I go to it through explorer it comes up in Windows Media Player and says it cannot accept it. Maybe from this someone can figure out what is happening. Thanks.
Shari

[Daviskw]

Shari

I am so sorry but the file I have is an AVI and is 1.3 Gig in size way to big for email.

If you have already downloaded the GVI file and it is not working there is no since sending the one I have it is the same and too big as well at 72 meg.

Just a suggestion if other Google videos work when you download them and just this one does not, you may want to be sure you erase the old one from your google video directory and uninstall the player then start over. The file just may have been corrupted when you downloaded it.

Butch

[Shari]

Thanks Butch I will try this next week. We will be out a lot on the weekend and I hate rushing computer things. I will completely start from scratch - and I know it will work!! Have a nice weekend.
Shari

[randy_nacol2002]

Butch That was great. I learned more about mask after watching your tut, this morning than I have within the last 4 months of doing Photoshop. Your way of teaching is great for us beginners.

Thanks

[mel]

Dorrie,
When I download Google videos, they usually save to desktop or to My Docs, but this last one disappeared.I found it in the My Video file.
Dave.

The same happened to me. I just downloaded it an hour ago and couldn't find it........good thing I read this whole thread first because I remembered to look in the My Video folder, and there it was :D

Now I just have to check to see if it really works offline ;)

[Mary]

Hi Butch - that video is simply great!!! Thank you for showing things that I really needed and for your exceptional style and clarity. You are now officially a P.E.T HERO!:)
(p.s. sound is fine when I view)

[Dee Dee Warren]

Butch it is SO helpful to have your pics to be able to work along.

I don't understand though why a mask has to be below the level you want it to effect. Couldn't it be above and grouped together and have the same effect? If I am not mistaken that is what another tutorial taught so I am confused now on that point.

That alt-zero trick while on the move tool is great! I never heard of that before.

Now here is the dummy question - when zooming, you selected a box and then zoomed right in on that box. How did you do that? I can't figure that out by watching. I know how to zoom, I just don't know how you selected that box portion and just zoomed in on that portion.

[Daviskw]

Hi Dee Dee

Say I have a photo with four layers. The top three have Mom on one, dad on another, and you on a third and the fourth is a background.

Mom on top is too dark but the rest of the layers are just right. You need to brighten mom to match. You open a levels adjustment layer on the top and move the center slider to brighten. But it brightens all the pictures so when you are OK everyone else is too bright.

The way you solve that is to only have the levels work on one layer not all, so you make sure your levels is just ABOVE mom then you GROUP. Now all adjustments you make will just affect the grouped layers. But remember the MASK is between the levels and mom. So the mask is to the right of where the adjustment is being made so it would hide the levels adjustment if needed. This is the same as the brighten tree truck example in the video. In the video I did not have different layers below so I did not need to group it.

So Bottom line, when using adjustment layers above layers if you do not group to the layer below any adjustments you make will change all the layers below that point. If you group the adjustment will only affect the layer you are grouped to.

The zoom was done with the video software rather than Elements I wanted to show a closer view than the zoom showed. But I could have used the navigator or the zoom slider for the same effect in Elements

Butch

[Dee Dee Warren]

Butch yes that is what I previously understood, but in the video you have the layer mask below, not above. So it will work just the same if I put the mask and adjustment level above, as long as I group it with the layer below? You were grouping with the layer above. It seems like both would work the same, no?

Is there a way to zoom in on only a box with Elements? I thought in my For Dummies book it said there was, I am going to look it up to see what it was I thought that I read.

[Daviskw]

Hi DeeDee

When the mask is below and grouped you are Hijacking the mask from the adjustment layer. You are not using the attached adjustment like levels.

When the mask is above you are using the adjustment such as levels to effect the layer or layers below. The mask must always be to the right or below. When the mask is above it is not the layer below the mask is affecting it is the adjustment like levels to the left. So if you painted on the mask you would be hiding the levels adjustment.

When the mask is below and grouped then you are hiding what was done to the layer above.

Go ahead and try it both ways that is always the best way to learn… you can’t hurt a thing.

Butch

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/3148/untitled19vp.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=untitled19vp.jpg)

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/8820/untitled29el.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=untitled29el.jpg)

[Dee Dee Warren]

Okay Butch, I will have to try it I guess 'cause it isn't sinking in. :dizzy:

[Robyn]

You are now officially a P.E.T HERO!:)


Mine too! :D

Keep them coming Butch.

[blackdog]

Is it possible to save the file to disc? When I try to save one of the videos to disc, all I get are 1KB files with the extension *gvp.

[Daviskw]

If you have windows you need to download and install the Google player before you can save and play from your hard drive.

Then be sure you don't press manual download.

Good Luck
Butch

[bayhli]

Hi Butch,

I'm so behind on the forum threads but I did watch your video and it is excellent! Your directions are clear, at a good speed and well supported with the examples. And I loved it because it was long and more in depth than the short blurbs we usually watch - could get right into it and stay there for awhile.

I've been quite comfortable using layers but certainly not as extensively as I could be from what I learned from you.

Thanks so much - sure hope you keep them com'in. Looks like you found your niche ;)

[Sonia]

Your video has succeeded in making me LOVE my masks, Butch! No small feat as they were very much of an enigma to the newbie I am.

PS. May I remind everyone (sorry if it's already been mentioned) to set up Google Video Player's Preferences to save video files in their folder of choice on the hard disk.

[Mac User]

I downloaded the video but I have a problem with the audio cutting in and out. Is that just the nature of the beast? Also the picture quality is not very good. Again is that just the best the site can do?

I'm on a Mac using PSE 4 and Quicktime Pro. I love the video I was just wondering if it's something I'm doing incorrectly and can I make it better by downloading something I don't have? Thanks for the video it's great!

[Shari]

I keep reading these wonderful posts and get so upset that I cannot hear this video. I tried another video from the site and no audio either. I also noticed when my computer logs off there is no sound and there used to be a little tune before. I contacted HP help again and they are telling me to try reinstalling my audio drivers. Why would this happen out of the blue? I hate doing that sort of thing but they are e-mailing me instructions and I will try tomorrow. Boy - computers can be frustrating - can't they!!!
Shari

[Africa1]

Butch
Excellent video. Hope there are more coming.:D

Mark

[MichaelRS]

Butch-
Well done!!! Thank you very much.
Michael

[NYBOB1]

Butch....
Very informative video,easy to follow.I learned a few things that I was unsure about.Thanks!!

Bob

[CarolLHB]

Bravo, Butch!:)

[OFD678]

Butch,

Really liked the video on mask. Do you have any more videos?

Thanks
Brent

[Daviskw]

Hi Brent

Just one other video, here is the link

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8407&highlight=Clipping

Butch

[Shari]

WOW - THE SOUND WORKS
I did a bobo like Bayla. Today I realized that the sound from a CD did not work either and spent the day in frustration. We called the place where my computer was fixed and when we set up the computer again the speaker was plugged into the wrong slot. Funny thing is that Matts videos worked until yesterday also. Now Butch I was watch this properly. I knew there had to be an answer.
Shari

[OFD678]

I really enjoyed your videos Butch. Please post any new ones in the future, would love to see them

Brent

[SCRAPPYGIRL]

Butch,]
Wow, I just got time to watch your mask tutorial, it really makes it look easy. Have to leave for work now, but I plan to play around with this over the weekend.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!

BTW - I thought your voice was rather nice!!!

[blurryday]

That tutorial helped me a lot. How do I find more like that?
Ruth

[alanH]

Thanks for the great mask tutorial. after trying for ages to use masks correctly, watched your tutorial and i suddenly realised i've always had the mask above instead of below the correct layer. thanks

[Shari]

Butch - it was well worth all the frustration for me to get sound. That is so informative in so many ways for a beginner like me. I have never used masks. I am going to wait for a rainy day and really study and work with your video. I will down load it again now. Thanks so much.
Shari

[Shari]

Butch - just watched the one on sky clipping too. Excellent. Picking up lots of little tips. I just wish I had the memory I had years ago because I have to either click back and forth or write everything down. No matter - it is great to have all this extra info. Keep producing! Thanks.
Shari

[Bayla]

Shari,

Thanks for pointing that video out - I missed it originally as my computer was at the doctor's.

Butch - do you have any more videos or just these two at the moment. you have the knack of explaining things very clearly (which compensates for the slight lack of clarity in the actual videos)

Thank you

Bayla

[Daviskw]

Hello Bayla and Shari

I am gald you got some use from the videos. They are the only two for now.

Thanks again Butch

[Punkinsmom]

Very well explained, so much so, I think I'm armed to complete a composite of Dusty for my hubby's office. Thanks

[Cmcburnett]

Someone in the forum gave me the link to the Butch's video a few months ago, it helped me tremendously, in fact I've watched the video several times to help me through different task. Great videos.

[Sissy]

Charlotte, I'm so glad you posted to this thread, because it brought it back up to the top where I found it.

What great videos, Butch. Thanks so much. I've downloaded both to my computer so I can rewatch them as needed. There's so much information in both of these so I want to actually follow along with my own photographs in PSE. That way I can retain more.

[MarieBoyer]

Butch:
I just watched the whole thing from start to finish, and while taking notes! This is one of the best tutorials I have ever watched. It was long enough to see you do things multiple times (which, for me, is a big plus), and I learned a ton!

Your teaching is first-rate. I frankly would pay for detailed videos like this one. You could go into business, for sure.

Do you have a website where I could find more of these? Or is this your first? And, when I want to watch this in the future, will this link always be active or does it get deleted eventually?

Thanks so much!

[Hatter]

As a newbie to this site, I've only just seen these videos. They're excellent - thanks very much, Butch.

Gareth

[MarieBoyer]

Gareth:
When say "videos," where are you seeing them? I only watched one (on layers).

Thanks in advance.

[Hatter]

This is the other one, Marie:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2394785904425489887&pr=goog-sl

[John L Gray]

Butch,

Just watched your video. What a great job of explaining layer masks. Thanks for sharing.

John:)

[MarieBoyer]

Thanks Gareth!

[susangreen]

Butch, thank you for a terrific explanation of masks. There is a lot of information here and I hope I'll be able to retain some of when I try to use them. This is the first time I have really understood how they work. Great job!

Susan

[MarieBoyer]

Butch, thank you for a terrific explanation of masks. There is a lot of information here and I hope I'll be able to retain some of when I try to use them. This is the first time I have really understood how they work. Great job!

Susan

Ditto Susan's comments!

[Kelli]

Great job on this video Butch! I love the window analogy- I think it finally will stick with me after watching this.

[MarieBoyer]

Just noticed that the latest newsletter has a section describing the same thing Butch is teaching in his tutorial. Maybe between both, I will start to feel comfortable using these.

I am still not totally understanding the "you are hijacking a mask" concept; and not sure about where the mask must go when you want to do certain things to the photo. But I intend to watch Butch's video again soon.

[mom to 4]

Butch does an excellent job explaining the layer masks. I cannot tell you how many times I go back to it! Each time I learn a little more! Butch ought to do an article for the newsletter!