Photoshop layers mask questions (1 Viewer)

David Smith · Mar 9, 2009

I am trying to understand PS3:egghead:
Some things are clicking but I'm struggling with layers/masks......may I explain.
I attach a photo I am using for an exercise.
As an exercise I want to turn the back-ground to black&white while leaving the flower red-I want to do this with layers/mask etc.
I have tried various methods but with no success.....could someone kindly (and more importantly-simply) give me the basic steps to follow.
Thanks
edit
I can achieve the result by using a) magic wand b) invert image c) de-saturate but I want to learn layers/masks

Atricapilla · Mar 9, 2009

Very similar to what you have done David,probably the quickest and easiest way is:~ use your quick mask tool to paint the flower only,load selection ,inverse ,desaturate .
Lynda .com have some great tutorials,worth a google.

David Smith · Mar 9, 2009

bobwoodcock said:
Very similar to what you have done David,probably the quickest and easiest way is:~ use your quick mask tool to paint the flower only,load selection ,inverse ,desaturate .
Lynda .com have some great tutorials,worth a google.

Thanks Bob-however that doesn't tell me how to use layers/masks. I only put that photo on so I could follow any advice given and learn layers/masks.
I will look on the web site you suggest.

Atricapilla · Mar 9, 2009

David Smith said:
Thanks Bob-however that doesn't tell me how to use layers/masks. I only put that photo on so I could follow any advice given and learn layers/masks.
I will look on the web site you suggest.

Sorry I presumed you knew where the Quick mask tool and the layers pallette were,there is an excellent help directory within Photoshop itself.

Mono · Mar 10, 2009

Use what ever you are confortamble with to select the area, (magic wand, pen tool or quick mask/paintbrush would all work) then in the Layers palette select a new "Black & White" Adjustment Layer.

You can the adjust the black and white conversion and use the paintbrush tool or "refine edges" to tinker with the mask.

Derry · Mar 20, 2009

David,, you may want to visit this site for most any Elements questions and tutorials,,

http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/

Derry

paul goode · Mar 20, 2009

David,
The technique we ran through yesterday should work fine on this image. Just use a b/w or channel mixer adjustment layer instead of the copy layer and gaussian blur that we used.
What I forgot to mention is that you can adjust the hardness of the brush in the drop down menu. In the same way that feathering a selection will give a smooth transition so will a soft edged brush, a hard edged brush will give a very sharp transition.

navman · Mar 20, 2009

Mono said:
Use what ever you are confortamble with to select the area, (magic wand, pen tool or quick mask/paintbrush would all work) then in the Layers palette select a new "Black & White" Adjustment Layer.

You can the adjust the black and white conversion and use the paintbrush tool or "refine edges" to tinker with the mask.

I am new to PS myself, and have just tried this method, and it works for me, I just wish i understood the rest of PS3 as I have seen some amazing things done with it!

I will keep playing!!

Photoshop layers mask questions (1 Viewer)

More options

David Smith

Warrington Lancs

Attachments

Atricapilla

Still Wandering

David Smith

Warrington Lancs

Atricapilla

Still Wandering

Mono

Hi!

Derry

Well-known member

paul goode

Well-known member

navman

Over the hill & Chillin out !!

Similar threads

Users who are viewing this thread