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HDR Layer mask


S

subZero

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Hello Gurus :)

I need some advice on something that is probably very basic, but I'm still young at this.

I processed an HDR image using 3 shots with my D80 (-2.0, 0, +2.0). I put the 3 shots in Photomatix and processed the final HDR image. So far so good. I now have 4 files, the 3 original shots and the processed HDR TIFF file. With me so far?

OK, I would now like to take the processed TIFF image and the underexposed (-2.0) NEF file and open them both in Photoshop. I would like the NEF file to be the bottom image in my layers pallet and the HDR TIFF file to be the upper image in my layers pallet. In short, these 2 images in my layers pallet in the order I just mentioned.

I would then like to paint over some of the areas on the TIFF layer to reveal the elements from the NEF file below. How do I do this?

Can someone please give me step by step mouse clicks on how to do this?

This is what I do so far.

File>Open> select the NEF file and open from Camera Raw. That image is now in my layers pallet as Background. That bit I can do...

NEXT. How do I add the tonemapped TIFF into my layers pallet above the Background NEF image? And then set it up so that I can paint over parts of the TIFF image to reveal the bottom layer? When I've tried I end up just painting black literally (it doesn't reveal).

Sorry for being dumb, it's probably easier than I make it sound. I would just really like to work this one out.

Thanks in advance.

Scott :o
 
I'm on a laptop without a charger, so I can't open photoshop to give you a visual guide. I'll go ahead and do my best to give you step by step instructions.

We'll start with what you know:
File>Open> select the NEF file and open from Camera Raw. That image is now in my layers pallet as Background.
Click to expand...

2) file -> open -> select the second image (Tiff)

3) with the tiff image open, and up go to select->select all

4) with the tiff still open go to edit->cut

5) now, go back to the NEF file and make it the window you're working on (just click on it)

6) on the NEF, go to edit->paste

--At this point, you should have two layers, and you should only be able to see the the Tiff file which is now on top. Also instead of painting on the top layer, it'll probably be easier to just use the eraser tool. You have access to all of your paint brushes, but it cuts several steps out of the process.

7) Select the eraser tool from your tools palette (or you can just press E)

8) the eraser tool works EXACTLY like the paintbrush tool, except it subtracs from the image instead of adding too it. Since you are trying to see one image that is below the other, all we really need to do is remove the part of the top image that is covering what you want to see. So for this step, just select the brush and brush size just like you would if you were painting. The if you want to you can edit the opacity.

9) Get to painting/erasing

good luck.
 
Thank you mozartdminor, I'll give that a go. I forgot to add that I will at times need to align the images accurately too. Let me try and I'll see if this works.


Scott

edit: after opening the tiff image, the first picture disappears from my pallet. Well, disappears altogether.
 
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Does it disappear? Or just completely close? If it's just being hidden by the second image than all you have to do is close the TIFF after step 4 and keep working. If on the other hand, the NEF file is closing than just reopen it after you do the cut (in step 4) and continue as planned. I'm not really sure why it's doing that, but it shouldn't make any difference to the process.
 
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