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Need Help Installing Masks


GatorGirl

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I'm back---still mystified about using masks. I have acquired grunge-frames masks and couldn't get them to work on my photos. It turns out I was using them directly from the organizer. I slid the mask up out of the organizer onto the layout and didn't like what I saw. I couldn't get the grunge look. I now know I need to save the mask in my PSP mask folder. (I'm guessing it's kind of like loading brushes) Can anyone give me directions on how to put my masks into the PSP mask folder? Maybe you know of a tutorial somewhere? I've looked around and even consulted my PSP books but no one mentions how to install the masks into the PSP program; just how to use them. I'd appreciate any help. I'm NOT giving up :hit-head-with-hammer: ---thanks, Karen

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Some masks come in a brush format and others come as ScrapSimple Embellishment products. The brush format (abr) that is included with the set doesn't work in PSP and you will need to use the png files that are included to make PSP brushes. The SS Embellishments come as png files. An easy way to use them is to layer the mask under your your photo and apply a clipping mask to cut your photo to the shape of the mask layer below it. I don't use PSP, so can't tell you exactly how to do it. I'm sure a PSP guru will be along soon.

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Karen you can use them directly from the browser and not put them in your mask folder. Here is what I do:

 

Drag my mask into my work space and minimize it.

Open my paper or whatever I plan to use the mask on.

Go to Layer>New Mask Layer>From image. Use the drop down menu to choose the layer file and choose the minimized mask layer

Play with next set of settings until you find on you like.

 

Because Masks use shades of gray from black to white to allow things to show I usually make sure I have a white layer as my base so I can see the shading easily. It can be turned off when you no longer need it or when you move the layer group to your layout.

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One note I'd add, make sure that the source luminance option is checked in the Layer>New Mask Layer>From image window. One time I didn't have that selected and got frustrated as the clip didn't happen .... then I figured it out!

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I thank you all for your help----but "we're" not done! I did as Dee directed; source luminance was checked; and this is what I saw:

in the layers palette (from top to bottom) there was>>>

a transparent square icon named: Group Raster 1

**next layer was indented with a solid black square icon named: Mask Raster 1

**next layer showed the photo named Photo Raster 1

last layer showed a white square icon named Background

 

The photo I was trying to put the mask on did not change. The transparent layer was covering the photo. I changed the opacity of the black solid mask to see if the photo showed any changed; NO LUCK!

 

Let me tell you about the grunge frame mask I was using. The size is 2100X1500 pixels, rectangular and is a .png image. When I pull it out of the organizer it is see-thru (transparent) in the middle and the 4 sides/edges look grungy, rough, erased in shades of black/gray. There are no layers like a template (but I don't think there should be, right?) I have to be doing something really wrong. It can't be this hard. Anybody out there up for the challenge? I really appreciate you all! Karen

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Well, my first thought ….

 

Your mask is a 5x7, so is the photo you are trying to clip 5x7? If the photo is smaller, I think it will "miss" the clipping part.

 

I understand your frustration because often something "strange" will happen to me with what I thought would be a routine technique and I have discovered 2 things that make a mask not work ….

 

  • I have opened a 12x12 base to scrap and placed my photo on the base then tried using the mask in the way Dee described. That resulted in the mask trying to clip the 12x12 rather than the photo … so what I usually do is make sure my mask and photo are same size, clip it, then copy merged and paste onto my 12x12 lo base.
  • Another thing I have done successfully with some masks is to place the photo onto my base layout and copy/paste the mask under the photo again making sure they are the same size. I then a.)select the mask layer in the layer palette, b.)get my magic wand and click on where the mask is on the lo getting "marching ants", c.) highlight the photo layer in the layer palette, d.) go to selections at the top and choose "invert", e.) hit the delete key, and f.) hit ctrl and D key to deselect. It seems like a lot of steps, but sometimes that will work when the method Dee described doesn't.

 

Hope this helps.

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Lei makes a good point about the size image you are working on. Here is a screen shot of a photo with a mask I just did. I used a yellow base to make it easier to see. It is important to have as the active layer what you want to mask. I wanted to add grunge edges to my photo so it was the active layer when I started. To add this masked photo to a layout I would need to copy the whole group or delete the yellow base and merge and copy.

 

 

 

The mask image is a 4x6 grunge frame. I left it visable in the screen shot so it could be seen but usually have the mask layer minimized when I am working on it.

The pictures is 1800 X 1200 px

 

These are my layers after using the steps I posted previously.

Final Mask group layer containing mask and photo layers

Mask layer

Photo layer

Base yellow layer

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I have some good news tonight! I did it! I got the mask to work today. I found a tut at one of the many scrapbooking sites I visit and after playing with it most of the afternoon, I finally got results! I found info on how to deal with non-textured masks (or solid black; no gray shading) and grunge or textured masks that include black/white/gray shading. Though I did not have to put the mask into the PSP mask folder, there are many steps to follow. One tut even has me use a 'split channel' on the mask to break it up by RGB (red, green, blue). That tut has 20 steps to follow-----BUT it works and that's what I was aiming for! Of course, the more I play the more I understand. Something to be said for 'learning by doing'! Anyway, I'd still like to learn how to save the mask in the PSP mask folder. But that's for another time! I will go back to Dee's explanation and give it another try. Maybe I'll finally 'get it'. Thanks again for all your input and help, Karen :2468who-do-we-appreciate:

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