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Mark.....Anyone HELP ME !!!


S

SpAwNoF

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Sorry for being so bold....but i was wondering if you could help me with just one lil step in the planet TuTE???
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You know the one, where you open a new document, well how do you do that, open a new document I mean........
:D :D :D
Nah kidding, on the Atmoshpere layer after having linked and merged the layers, I activate the eraser tool, and start trimming away just so, in order ro get just the right effect........and stuff it!!!!
:{
Can you give me some advice on working with the eraser tool, because all i am doing at the moment is eating large holes in what was othrwise a pretty good looking lil planet. I also find that if the brush touches an area and i have opacity set to 30%, that i get a really nice even effect around the "poles", but when i try and blend some more i find i have created an overlay affect with different shades........not a very convincing atmosphere, huh.
:(|
I am really enjoying the "Star Field" Thread, everyones work is just BUTIFUL. I am really loving being a new part of this community, I am left speechless, you have achieved something very special with this place.
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Spawn, Never, Never, Never, Never, Never, Never, Never EVER use the Eraser Tool. Banish it forever from your mind.

Use a layer mask instead. You have the power to 'erase' with the paintbrush set to black, and to 'unerase' with the paintbrush set to white.

OK, it involves the effort of an extra mouse click, but it will save your sanity. Small price to pay!

Masks are one of the most commonly used features in the layer palette.
It is time well spent learning how to use them.

Al.
 
I second that Al! Not to mention that you keep the integrity of your original image :righton:
 
I agree with Al. I can't remember when I ever used the eraser tool [confused]
I always try to stear people towards a non-destructive way of using Photoshop. Even things like adding lighting, noise, borders or just cloning, are always done by me without touching the original layer. It gives me a lot more flexibility, which is especially important when I retouch photographs.
 
I have been playing some more with adding a new layer and airbrushing black over the area, and it looks great. Thankyou so much for the idea, I cannot believe that I am actually making cool lil planets that look so real, now for the star field tute. Again thank you. :righton: :D :D
 
Rantin Al said:
Spawn, Never, Never, Never, Never, Never, Never, Never EVER use the Eraser Tool. Banish it forever from your mind.

Use a layer mask instead. You have the power to 'erase' with the paintbrush set to black, and to 'unerase' with the paintbrush set to white.
Click to expand...

I've always used the er, um......Eraser (gulp).......hmm, maybe I shouldn't say that here - LOL

Ok, so call me braindead, but .... can someone explain about using these "layer masks" ?
 
The beginners section .... (sniff) .... I feel so ashamed ....

Thanks, Lily.
 
C9Mouse

You are welcome. :)

There is no need to be ashamed , we all learn from each another.

I am a bigginer and usualy when I get to something that is new to me I first search this site and get more info.

Also in this forum there is a section with a list of the links well organized and are very helpfull,
:righton: as well as Quick- Tips and Techniques , Forum tutorials and etc.
:righton:
:)
 
[shhh] You're not alone C9Mouse...I use the eraser tool all the time too! ;) [innocent] Whistling....

[confused] You've been directed to Mark's "beginner's tutes"... I guess that means that I'm not "worthy" of PS! :(|

[:I :bustagut: Yeah, I believe in non-destrictive "editing" to photos... but when one is painting/erasing on one's one (solely created by self) layer, it's just a "quick & dirty" method to work... [innocent] But, assuredly, I would never "erase" bits of a photo... [shhh] without at least making a copy first! :D
 
Thanks for the link Lily

Layer masks are something I have not worked with in PS.
On my way to the beginner tut board then.
Amazing how much there is to learn about PS. :)

anepu
 
Me too I use the erazor quite often, and, to unite both parties, also on layer masks.
What the erazor does is paint with the background colour (unless you're on a layer with transparant pixels). So hitting D sets my foreground and background colours to default (black and white), and then I reveal the underlying layer with B (from Bush, err...Brush, painting it black like the Rolling Stones) and correcting with E, the Erazor, painting a whiter shade of pale.

The Erazor also listens to the size ([ and]) and the Opacity (numbers from 1 to 0 for%) shortcuts. And can use all the brushes. WOW.

Also when painting I love the erazor for the same kind of option (having two colours at my disposal at the same time).

Yet: layer masks are one of the top three hits in PS. The all-time number one? No. That is "Multiple Undo". Wish I had that in real life also...
 
The essence of layer masks:

1/ click on the second icon from the left at the bottom of the layers palette. You will see a new, white icon at the right of your layer, and linked to it with a chain.

2/ To paint on the mask, click on the new white icon. The brush at the left of it will turn into a grey rectangle with a white circle in it. The mask itself behaves like a greyscale image. whatever you paint in black will reveal the underlying layer. whatever stays white will show the layer you are working on (if it is the top one), and all greyscale values will reveal more or less of the underlying layer, depending whether they're clores to black or white.

3/ As the mask behaves as a greyscale image, you can use filters, and adjustments to it as you fancy.

4/ When you press Alt when you click on the white mask icon, you don't see how the image is influenced, but you see the mask itself. This also allows you to past an image of the same size into the mask, for example one of the channels.
 
I have noticed that when i click on the white "mask" box, and select the brush tool and go to start applying, on the mask.......
nothing happens.....
I have the white mask box selected the layer is not, i repeat not, locked, and it does absolutley nothing brush is set to 30 so it is nice and managable @ 100% opacity.......what the frick is going on, why am i not able to apply to the mask.......missing something again..... [confused]
%}
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SpAwNoF said:
I have noticed that when i click on the white "mask" box, and select the brush tool and go to start applying, on the mask.......
nothing happens.....
I have the white mask box selected the layer is not, i repeat not, locked, and it does absolutley nothing brush is set to 30 so it is nice and managable @ 100% opacity.......what the frick is going on, why am i not able to apply to the mask.......missing something again..... [confused]
%}
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Click to expand...


Check out Mark's tutorial on using masks here:
http://photoshopgurus.info/beginners/masks-clipgroups3.shtml

This might help you with the problem you're having :)
 
Spawn

Make sure that the foreground is set to Black to paint on transparency.
White will restore visibility.

Al.
 
a very basic use of layer masks that, imo, shows their big advantage:

suppose you want to mix, say, a portrait, with a texture.

You could open the portrait on one layer, open or create the texture on another one, and then play with opacity and/or layer styles. Problem is that this always influences your complete image, including the background that you want to keep.
You could create a mask to protect the background, which is in fgact the same as selecting the pixels you do want to change, in this example: the face.
But still, the whole area would be texturised with the same intensity.
Bummer.

In come layer masks. Look at the example. Put your texture below your portrait layer, see that the latter is active and then click on that circle-in-a rectangle icon at the button of your layers palette. YOu have added a layer mask and you can see that it is active, meaning that you can work on it, by the small icon to the left of your portrait layer. That too has changed from a brush into a circle-in-a-rectangle. (Clicking on either the portrait or the mask activates it. try this out if you never did so).

Now see that your foreground colour is set to black and the backgr to white (press D) and then, important, click somewhere on your image or the desktop to deactivate all possible settings on your layers palette.
Use your numbers on your keyboard to set the opacity of your brush (I use some 15% as it works slow and allows building-up) and start painting on that face. You will slowly see the texture appear, and just how intense you wish it and exactly where you want it.
In case you make a mistake, press X to set the foreground colour to white and correct, then press X again to switch back to black and paint as you fancy.

Remember this is only a very basic use, but it is used a LOT by the shoppers on the hill who are rich, famous and bahhh...'nough said.

enjoy!
 
As usual, quality work Eric, and very well said :righton:
 
Beautiful explanation and example Erik! :}
 
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