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Overlay As Mask


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I bought a set of new templates thinking they would be layered masks to use in PS CS6. Instead, most of the design is an intricate overlay which I can't seem to color. I've tried different opacity and fill leveIs with a paper both on top and below the overlay, but that doesn't look right. I've tried a clipping mask, but that doesn't show the overlay design. I don't know what else to do...can anyone help?

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Hi,

 

We might be able to help you better if we know specifically which product you are referring to. Could you post a link to the product or at least the exact name of the product? :)

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Hmmm, I don't have that set of templates, but according to the description they come with both PSD and PNG files. Have you tried using the PSD files, and coloring or clipping a paper to each layer separately? Are you sure you weren't using a sample image which comes with the files?

Let us know if you still need help. :)

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What program are you using?

 

In Photoshop/PSE:

 

If you just want to use one single mask (like if you just grab one PNG file) and you want to use it as a mask, you pull that PNG image into your layout.

Then you place the color or paper or photo in a layer directly ABOVE the mask. (For a color, you would just create a layer and use the paint bucket tool to 'fill' it with a single color.) Then with the layer ABOVE the mask active, use CNTRL+ALT+G for Photoshop or CNTRL+G for PSE. This will clip your top layer to the bottom layer.

 

To use the PSD template, drag the template into your program. Make a DUPLICATE of the template, so you can keep the original unchanged. (To duplicate, just go to IMAGE>DUPLICATE, then close the original file -- the duplicate would be called "Whatever the file name is called-copy." You can turn off any layers you don't want to use. Then, using the same directions above, "clip" your papers/color/photos to the layers.

 

Hope this helps!!

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Hi There,

Jennifer gave some great tips on using clipping masks to color each layer. The templates do come in both layered PSD and PNG so you can color individual layers. For some of the layers there are patterns, for example a damask pattern. If you want to color those a different color than their background you can use the magic wand tool to select the pattern and then use the paint bucket tool to drop color into the selection.

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These look like something I might just add straight into my cart.. not my wish list.

 

Rosemary hope you were able to follow the instructions that Jennifer and Syndee shared.

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Thanks for all the comments. I use a Mac so when I tried Jennifer's tip, it didn't work at all. I've always used the option key (I think that's ALT on Windows) to clip paper to a mask. When I tried that with SG png, I had to lower the fill and opacity (on PS) for the colored layer. After doing this, the color was too gray. Am I making sense?

 

I've been using PSD layers for 10 years and this is the first time I've had this clipping problem.

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Sorry, Rosemarythyme! I am on PC, so for MAC you use OPTION instead of ALT.

 

Did you try scrolling through the blend modes on your layers palette? Usually, overlay or soft light will bring the texture and pattern of the mask through. You adjust the blend mode on the layer ABOVE the mask.

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Hi Rosemary

I've always scrapped on Mac and to clip I use "Command G"

 

That doesn't however give you texture, for that as Jennifer said you'd probably need to play with blending modes.

 

I'll have to try using the OPTION key - never did that! :)

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Got it to work, sort of. Jennifer, using the Pin Light and Hard Light blending modes work the best. I did lower the fill a little to get more of the texture. Thanks everyone for being so patient with me.

 

MariJ, if you use the option key, hold it down and click the line between the layers you want to clip. Do the same to unclip.

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Rosemary, you might want to try applying a hue-saturation adjustment layer. Click on the divided circle icon at the bottom of the layer panel, and be sure the layer is just above the template you're modifying. You can start by sampling a color you want from the photo or paper's you're using; it should show up as the foreground color. Click on the colorize space at the bottom of the adjustment layer tools. Then you can play with the sliders - hue (color), saturation (bright or muted colors) and lightness/darkness until you find a combination you like.

 

This approach is a bit more tedious than just clipping a fill layer or paper to the template, but it gives you more control. Hope this helps!

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Thanks for the tip...I'll give it a try. I have to say, though, I don't like template kits that include overlays. I have tons of templates and use them because they're quick but I've spent hours on this problem. I do appreciate all the helpful hints and suggestions.

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Got it to work, sort of. Jennifer, using the Pin Light and Hard Light blending modes work the best. I did lower the fill a little to get more of the texture. Thanks everyone for being so patient with me.

 

MariJ, if you use the option key, hold it down and click the line between the layers you want to clip. Do the same to unclip.

 

Thank you Rosemary! I had no idea it could be done this way and I am going to try it out! I appreciate your extra help. :)

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Got it to work, sort of. Jennifer, using the Pin Light and Hard Light blending modes work the best. I did lower the fill a little to get more of the texture. Thanks everyone for being so patient with me.

 

MariJ, if you use the option key, hold it down and click the line between the layers you want to clip. Do the same to unclip.

 

Thank you Rosemary! I had no idea it could be done this way and I am going to try it out! I appreciate your extra help. :)

 

 

This method also works for PSE on a PC. Hold the ALT key down, and click between the layers. Just an alternate method to Ctrl+G for clipping. :)

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Thanks for the tip...I'll give it a try. I have to say, though, I don't like template kits that include overlays. I have tons of templates and use them because they're quick but I've spent hours on this problem. I do appreciate all the helpful hints and suggestions.

 

Templates like these can be time-consuming, but when you get comfortable with them, you can do some nice things. Kudos to you for being persistent and patient.

 

By the way, welcome to Scrap Girls! I'm in Colorado, too.

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Rosemary I hope you don't give up on templates with texture just yet. They do work a bit differently than the flat grey templates but you can get such stunning results with a little practice! Everyone has jumped in and given some great tips in this thread!

We have several tutorials on our blog and here is one is specific that might be helpful:

http://scrapgirls.com/blog/using-gradients-in-photoshop-to-color-papers-embellishments-and-photos/

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