Tennessee_Gator
Layer Mask Lesson
This is the second version. If you saw the first sorry, I had to delete it.
A layer mask is a secondary layer added next to the primary layer in the Layer's pallet as shown in the inset. You'll notice the thin black second border around that rectangle. It shows that the Layer Mask is selected. You do that by clicking on it. If you clicked on the main layer icon to the left, it would have the secondary border.
Also shown here are arrows pointing to other buttons in the Layer pallet. The three not pointed at are links, sets and trash can.
How I did this step by step.
1. double clicked the background layer and click OK to make it Layer 0 (you can do this with a single double click by holding down the option key, alt on PC). This is important since you can't add a layer mask to a "Background" layer.
2. I held down the command key (control on PC) and click the "New Layer" button. By holding down the key it puts the layer below the layer with my ugly mug. If you didn't hold it down key the blank layer would appear above. If it did, just drag it below
3. The newly created layer should now be highlighted in some color indicating that it is chosen (or selected, this can be confusing because "selecting" means something different when using the marquee or lasso tool.) If it is not highlighted, then click on it. and use the gradient tool to fill it with a gradient (using the gradient tool is pretty basic: choose from the gradient menu and drag across the layer).
4. Next click back on Layer 0 (here, it is pix of the goofy man with his tongue out) and then click the layer mask button. A mask icon should appear on that layer (to the right) and the double line should indicate the mask is chosen.
5. Take the lasso tool and draw a loose circle around the object (here it's Me), when you release the mouse button, should see the marching ants (luv that term, that would be a good title for an animated movie "The Marching Ants".)
6. Inverse the selection, either from the Select menu or keyboard shortcut of Command (ctrl on pc) + shift + i . Hit "d" on the keyboard, setting your default colors and then use the keyboard shortcut of command (ctrl on pc) + delete. This fills the selected areas on the mask with black. You masked area should make that area disappear on the photo. You can also do it the long way by going Edit > Fill and choose black, from the menu.
7. Now at this point it helps to have a Wacom tablet, but if you don't it can be done with a mouse. First deselect (command + d or Select > Deselect from the menu). Then hit "x" on the keyboard, making black the foreground color. choose a soft brush with a size allowing you to paint larger areas ( The "[" key makes it smaller and the "]" makes it larger. Add the shift to soften or harden).
8. Paint in black (making sure the double border is still around the mask icon -- no mad clicking allowed) along the edges of the object (Me again).
9. Eventually you will have "masked" out what you want to hide and let the gradient background show through. If you mess up remember the "x" key. It will flop foreground and background colors. Paint in white to unmask and black to mask.
I hope that's clear and helps someone.
Layer Mask Lesson
This is the second version. If you saw the first sorry, I had to delete it.
A layer mask is a secondary layer added next to the primary layer in the Layer's pallet as shown in the inset. You'll notice the thin black second border around that rectangle. It shows that the Layer Mask is selected. You do that by clicking on it. If you clicked on the main layer icon to the left, it would have the secondary border.
Also shown here are arrows pointing to other buttons in the Layer pallet. The three not pointed at are links, sets and trash can.
How I did this step by step.
1. double clicked the background layer and click OK to make it Layer 0 (you can do this with a single double click by holding down the option key, alt on PC). This is important since you can't add a layer mask to a "Background" layer.
2. I held down the command key (control on PC) and click the "New Layer" button. By holding down the key it puts the layer below the layer with my ugly mug. If you didn't hold it down key the blank layer would appear above. If it did, just drag it below
3. The newly created layer should now be highlighted in some color indicating that it is chosen (or selected, this can be confusing because "selecting" means something different when using the marquee or lasso tool.) If it is not highlighted, then click on it. and use the gradient tool to fill it with a gradient (using the gradient tool is pretty basic: choose from the gradient menu and drag across the layer).
4. Next click back on Layer 0 (here, it is pix of the goofy man with his tongue out) and then click the layer mask button. A mask icon should appear on that layer (to the right) and the double line should indicate the mask is chosen.
5. Take the lasso tool and draw a loose circle around the object (here it's Me), when you release the mouse button, should see the marching ants (luv that term, that would be a good title for an animated movie "The Marching Ants".)
6. Inverse the selection, either from the Select menu or keyboard shortcut of Command (ctrl on pc) + shift + i . Hit "d" on the keyboard, setting your default colors and then use the keyboard shortcut of command (ctrl on pc) + delete. This fills the selected areas on the mask with black. You masked area should make that area disappear on the photo. You can also do it the long way by going Edit > Fill and choose black, from the menu.
7. Now at this point it helps to have a Wacom tablet, but if you don't it can be done with a mouse. First deselect (command + d or Select > Deselect from the menu). Then hit "x" on the keyboard, making black the foreground color. choose a soft brush with a size allowing you to paint larger areas ( The "[" key makes it smaller and the "]" makes it larger. Add the shift to soften or harden).
8. Paint in black (making sure the double border is still around the mask icon -- no mad clicking allowed) along the edges of the object (Me again).
9. Eventually you will have "masked" out what you want to hide and let the gradient background show through. If you mess up remember the "x" key. It will flop foreground and background colors. Paint in white to unmask and black to mask.
I hope that's clear and helps someone.