Graduated masks

pdxrjt · Post by **pdxrjt** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 3:31 pm

Okay, it is a holiday season and I have a few days off. Time to "play" with PSP a bit....and see if I can figure out/get help with an issue I have thought about for a long time. I have a couple of books about using PSP, but they really don't address this "task"..... if, this is something that can be done. I am interested in creating and using my own graduated masks. For example, I have a sunset, I would like to create a mask that goes from purple red at the top to pink at the horizon line, then paste it or use it in a layer and use opacity on that layer to have it add or enhance colors in the photo. So some questions....for answer I would be happy to a) receive detailed instructions and/or b) be directed to a place in the help files or manual which answers the question and/or c) get lots of sympathy

a) Is this a task for a "mask" or a different type of feature? Is a mask the best way to get an effect like this?
b) How do you create the mask?
c) Is a layer the best way to apply it or is there another way?

This has been a gnawing question for about 6 months and I finally have 2-3 days to work on it....... (next week, but maybe I can do some reading this week!!)

TIA

Post by **Ron P.** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 8:42 pm

A mask is just a covering over an image or a part of an image. In PSP you have Layers, and can apply various types of masks to a layer. To create a mask, simply right-click on a layer in the Layers Palette, and select New Mask Layer then either Show All or Hide All.

Now you need to understand how masks work. They function on the 8-bit grayscale colors only. So to paint on a mask you will be using white, black or some shade in between. When you paint on a mask layer using one of these grey-scale shades, you are actually altering the amount of transparency applied. Painting white-completely transparent, Black-completely opaque. Don't get confused yet, it's really not confusing... just think, White lets the light shine through, and black blocks it.

Remember you're painting on the Mask not the image below it.

Now here's a link to a tutorial I found doing a Google search for Gradient Mask... http://www.brovik.com/mask4.html.

Others...

pdxrjt · Post by **pdxrjt** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 11:11 pm

Many thanks..... doing my reading now!!