PSP won't allow jpg images to be used as a mask?

[mushigirl78]

I create masks to be used in things like digital scrapbooking & creating signature tags (tagging). My masks are in high demand and about a month or so ago I started hearing people saying they couldn't use the jpg masks in psp for some reason, even though they could use them in the past.

To make my masks more usable to everyone who wants to use them (including PS users) I now include several formats in a zip file. I still see many people saying they can't use the jpg's made by others.

Has there been any changes or maybe a way that I can help them use the jpg's.

I usually apply my layer masks from an image, but know some put theirs right into the program and load from disk. I'm wondering if loading from disk is the issue as opposed to the format of the masks?

[LeviFiction]

Can you offer an example?

I have PSP X8 installed on my system, and there are seven JPG masks that come with the creative content download you get when you register the application. Those load just fine for me. I also tried three different JPGs one was full color, one was B&W but 8-bit RGB. The third was a greyscale 8-bit. All worked.

And I'm unfamiliar with any limitations on loading masks in the JPG format.

[hartpaul]

Hi Mushigirl,
You need to be more specific.
1. What version of PSP are you having trouble with?
2. Which versions of PSP are the other people running and on what windows system.?
3. Which mask are they having trouble with ? Is it the same mask(s) for each person?
4. Can you provide a couple of examples of these masks for others on this forum to download and test.
5. Are you having problems using your own masks?

Can you ask these people to list the steps they are using to use the masks you provide?

I was able to save in a desktop folder, a couple of black and white images as jpgs, rename one as .PspMask leaving the other as .jpg and transfer both to the PSp masks folder in Documents . Both worked perfectly in PSP X7 on a Windows XP machine

[mushigirl78]

I've spoken with one person that can't use them.

This is our convo concerning this issue:

User: ok i tried just saving it and it saved as a jpeg and it wont let me import into my psp masks i dunno lol, but ty anyways

Me: Try resaving as a pspimage and then try it.

User: it only gives me the option of jpeg and bitmap

Me: How do you load the masks that you use? Do you put it in your masks folder in PSP?

User: i usually have the option of downloading them.. like when i go to yours i download them into my masks folder, then i go to pspand import them from that folder into the program

Me: Ok try this: Open your mask jpg image. On the layer you want to use the mask on whether it's a paper layer or colored layer, go to Layers>New Mask Layer>From Image. Then you'll see a dialog box appear. Select your mask from the drop down list, source luminance checked, invert masked data unchecked. See if that works.

Me: What version of PSP & Windows do you use?
And do you load your mask from disk or do you load your mask from an image?

User: I use psp x6 and I oly know how to use my masks when I can download and import... I tried what u suggested it did not work

Me: What windows version are you running?

User: ummm thre latest b4 the 10 download I haven't downloaded 10 yet (assuming she's running 8.1)

[LeviFiction]

I'm curious what she means by import.

Layers - New Mask Layer -> From Image will only use currently opened images inside of PSP.

Layers -> Load/Save Mask -> Load Mask from Disk

Looks inside their Masks folder and uses any image it finds in there.

The import menu only has Twain, Screen capture, or brushes. So I am very curious as to what "import" she's referring to.

[JoeB]

I agree with LeviFiction. Your user should be providing you with the step-by-step detail as to the steps she is taking, starting with having an image open in PSP and then every step she takes to load the mask - AND use the terminology shown on the buttons, tooltips and/or menu items that she is using.

[LindaSue]

The user doesn't sound computer literate if they don't know which operating system they have. I think that providing all those details wouldn't be something they could handle. I wonder if they are actually using Paint Shop Pro because there's no import option for masks in PSP.

[mushigirl78]

Yeah I run into a lot of people who don't know the terminology or can't explain things correctly.

In our conversation, she told me that she's unable to save them in her browser correctly so I"m thinking this is more a OS or browser issue than a PSP issue.

[hartpaul]

I've spoken with one person that can't use them.
1. User: ok i tried just saving it and it saved as a jpeg and it wont let me import into my psp masks i dunno lol, but ty anyways

2. User: it only gives me the option of jpeg and bitmap

Me: How do you load the masks that you use? Do you put it in your masks folder in PSP?

3. User: i usually have the option of downloading them.. like when i go to yours i download them into my masks folder, then i go to pspand import them from that folder into the program

Me: Ok try this: Open your mask jpg image. On the layer you want to use the mask on whether it's a paper layer or colored layer, go to Layers>New Mask Layer>From Image. Then you'll see a dialog box appear. Select your mask from the drop down list, source luminance checked, invert masked data unchecked. See if that works.

Me: What version of PSP & Windows do you use?
And do you load your mask from disk or do you load your mask from an image?

4. User: I use psp x6 and I oly know how to use my masks when I can download and import... I tried what u suggested it did not work

Me: What windows version are you running?

User: ummm thre latest b4 the 10 download I haven't downloaded 10 yet (assuming she's running 8.1)

This sounds so vague and assumptions being made from both sides.
Have numbered the user's comments to aid in my suggestions.

1. "tried saving it" ??? What is it? is this a zip file or do you mushigirl78 have your masks distributed as plain .jpg files? as .PspMask, as zip files ? or the images on a web page and the person is trying to save the mask from a web page which is probably why she/he is only getting the option of jpg or bmp files as mentioned in 2.

How exactly is User trying to import into a masks folder? Ash user to give a step by step description.

3. "I download into my masks folder" this sounds like User has a separate Masks folder that they use to save any masks they download from the net. They seem to indicate that this is not the Masks folder found in This PC\Documents\ Corel PaintShop Pro\16.0\
"import them from that folder into the program" - do they really mean import or is it load ?

4. "download (as jpg or bmp) and import" again as Levifiction has mentioned File > Import only has limited options and cannot load a jpg from a folder into the PSP X6 program.
User could do File > Load and bring a jpg or bmp file into PSP, but not Import.

However assuming that User has Windows 8, they need to look in Documents\Corel PaintShop Pro\16.0 and open up their Masks folder there. This is the user designed folder fro masks and these can be .jpg or .PspMask files.

They should open their Masks folder (the one they do all their saving to from the internet) select and copy the .jpg files they want and then switch to the 16.0\Masks folder and paste them in there. (or control drag and drop from one open window to the 16.0 open Masks window)
They should then be usable from there.

[LindaSue]

You can point PSP to any folder on your computer that contains masks or any kind of image, actually. They don't have to go in the Corel folder. I have mine pointing to a folder on a different drive and I've got JPG's, PSPimages, PSPmasks and PNGs in the folder. Any image can be loaded as a mask and it will show up under Layers > Load/Save Mask if you've pointed PSP to the folder in File Locations.

[LeviFiction]

This probably wont' help much. I made it in spurts at work here. The noise in the background is terrible.

But see if this helps your user at all. It's a very basic, yet oddly long, tutorial on using another image as a mask and where PSP finds the information.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akPmkmB9VV4

I do this because I love the sound of my own voice.