adobe photoshop - starting out

Yes, PSE has layers (definitely since v2). There are ways of adding Layer Masks to PSE
www.hiddenelements.com had a neat free plugin that added a layer mask.

Alternatively you can use a technique called "Clipping Masks" with PSE. I've detailed the procedure on my website: http://www.photon.me.uk/PSE/PaintingPSE.htm

See here as well: http://www.photon.me.uk/PS/ps_layers_tutorial_1.htm


Matt

I'm still using Photoshop 7 quite a lot of the time, despite having CS2 as well. The advatage is the Browser, which I prefer to Bridge, and faster operation because of the lower call on the PCs resources.

I take your point John, any of the versions from CS onwards demand more from the computer, mainly in RAM. CS4 even demands a dual processor and a 3D graphics card with 256Mb of Ram! But its worth it.

Bridge in CS3 and even more so in CS4 is a program with hidden depths, you can play most any codec of video inside Bridge, you can open any file for which you have a program installed (and some you haven't) all without leaving Bridge. You can open Jpegs and Tiffs in the Raw converter offering lossless editing. All the setting in Raw converter are global in CS3, in CS4 for the first time you can 'paint' in any setting(s) into part of an image.

You can do this with Elements, as long as you use an adjustment layer, rather than applying Levels (or whatever) from the menu.

If you mean you can paint on a mask to a layer so that you can't see certain pixels, then you can't do that with Elements (unless you add something as Matt suggests). You would simply have to delete the out of focus pixels in the seperate layers, but then obviously that's destructive.

Dan

I forgot about that Dan, thinking about it(always difficult) you can do the second one too. If you open the Layers as before, above each Layer open an Adjustment Layer, by putting the cursor between the Layers and Ctrl + Left Click (could be Alt + Left Click) it joins the Layers together. Then you can use the Layer Mask on the Adjustment Layer.

Sorry, I don't follow you! You can link the layers, but using the mask on the adjustment layer has no effect on the linked layer. At least not on the version I'm using anyway (PSE4).

Dan

Hi Dan

I don't use Elements and I got it wrong. You Open an Adjustment Layer, don't alter anything just click OK, drag the Adjustment Layer BELOW the image Layer and then link using the Alt + Left Click with the curser on the join between the Layers. Now it will work as a Layer Mask. Sorry about that Dan.

Sometimes its easier to fill the Layer Mask with Black which hides that Layer and paint with White to reveal it.

Chris - this is called a "Clipping Mask"
Details on my website for PSE
Matt

Its a great resource and some stunning images Matt.

Thanks Chris

Hi Chris,

Just tried it - works a treat.

Cheers for that, I've managed perfectly well without knowing about it, but I'm sure it will come in handy in the future.

Dan