Layer Mask refining

We all know what a Layer Mask does, it hides or reveals. A White Layer Mask reveals all and a Black Layer Mask hides all.  Sometimes when you mask out a portion of an image you can get jagged edges showing when you zoom into the image. This can be got rid off so that do different images can be used one on top of another without it being apparent that there are two images or more. 

The model and the background are different images, but they don't appear so.

Read on.

I will be using this rust texture as the Background.

I will be using this image in the foreground or in other words I will replace the Black  background with the rust texture.

You will find plenty of free Textures and images for download free at http://www.deviantart.com/

Step 1 : I am pressing CTRL+A (Select ALL) and CTRL+C (copy).

Step 2 : I am going over to the Rust texture and pressing CTRL+V (Paste). 

The image of the model (on Layer 1) has been pasted on the Rust texture (Background layer).

Step 3 : The image of the model is larger than the Rust Texture. It has to be resized. Press CTRL+T. A selection (Free Transform) appears.

Step 4 : Press SHIFT+ALT and drag the top left corner handle and drag down and up to resize.

Step 5 : The model's image has been resized. Click the Tick Mark in the top panel to accept the transformation.

Step 6 : Click the Add Layer Mask button and a Layer Mask forms next to the Layer thumbnail on Layer 1.

Step 7 : Click the Quick Selection Tool. (You will find a tutorial here on using the Quick Selection Tool in case you don't know how to use it).

Step 8 : Click on the Black Background to select it.

Step 9 : Ensure that the Foreground Color is set to the default Black and Background to White or press x then d on the keyboard to restore the default.

Step 10 : Press ALT+BACKSPACE to fill with the Foreground Color which is Black in this case. The Background Texture is revealed. Press CTRL+D to deselect.

Step 11 : ALT+CLICK the Mask.

You can now see the Mask in Detail. 

Step 12 : Zoom into the image to see the parts that needs to be fixed. Some details can be fixed here.

Step 13 : Press x on the keyboard to change the Foreground Color to White.

Step 14 : Click the Brush Tool or just press b on the keyboard. To make a Brush SOFT press SHIFT+[ (left square bracket). To make it hard press SHIFT+] (right square bracket). To make a brush large press ] and [ to make it small. We will be using a SOFT brush.

Step 15 : I am using the Brush to fix a small detail here.

Step 16 : Press x on the keyboard to change the Foreground Color to Black.

Step 17 : Click the Brush Tool to remove the spot of white.

If you zoom in the selection is still not perfect at the edges.

Step 18 : Click the Mask panel. You can see that there are two sliders -- Density and Feather.

Step 19  : Drag the Feather slider by 1 pixel. It should do the job. But do not use more than 2 pixels.

Step 20 : Click the Mask Edge.

Step 21 : The Refine Edge dialogue opens.

Step 22 : In the view I have chosen On White.

The image is now previewed on white.

Step 23 : Highlight the Smooth box and press SHIFT+UP ARROW to move the slider by increments of 10. Or just press the UP ARROW and move the slider by increments of 1. I have moved the Smooth slider to 10. It smooths out the rough edges.

Step 24 : Highlight the Feather box and press just the UP ARROW to move the value up in increments of 0.1. I have left the slider at 0.5.

Step 25 : Similarly highlight the Contrast box, press the UP ARROW to move the slider in increments of  1. I have left the slider at 7.

Step 26 : Lastly check the Smart Radius. Highlight the Radius box. Press the UP ARROW to move the slider in increments of  0.1. I have moved it to 0.5.

Step 27 : I am setting the Output to Selection from the drop down menu. Click OK.

This is how the image looks.

Step 28 : I have lastly lowered the Density of the Mask to 55%.

Step 29 : The background of the Layer Mask now appears gray instead of  the black earlier.

The Rust Texture in the Background has faded with the lowering of the Density of the Layer Mask. That is all. Other photoshop tutorials are here

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Paste Into Layer Mask

This seems to be an odd title for a photoshop tutorial. It is about a Layer Mask and the Paste Into command. But what does it do? One thing in combination Blend Modes it increases highlights very beautifully without appearing the least bit artificial or interfere with the shadows.

 This is the processed image. The original is below. You can see the difference.

I will be using this stock image. You will find it here

It belongs to ThrashDrummer

Step 1 : Press CTRL+J to duplicate Background Layer to Layer 1. Click on the Channels palette next to the Layers palette. 

Step 2 : The Channels palette opens. There is the RGB channel, followed by the Red, Green and Blue channels. If you click the Red, Green and Blue channels in turn you will be able to see how much contrast they have. The image will also appear in Black and White.

This is how the Red channel looks.

This is how the Green Channel looks.

This is how the Blue channel looks.

Step 3 : Now click on the Red channel. Press CTRL+A (select all), then CTRL+C (copy). The entire image will be selected.

Step 4 : Click on the RGB channel, then click on the Layers palette.

Step 5 : Back in the Layers palette click on the Add Layer Mask button. A Layer Mask on Layer1.

Step 6 : Now ALT+CLICK the Layer Mask.

The image turns White as soon as you click the Mask. What you are actually seeing is the Mask and not the image.

Step 7 : Press CTRL+V (paste). The image is pasted into the Mask in Black and White as you can see. Press CTRL+D to deselect. The marching ant selection will go away.

Step 8 : Alt Click the Layer Mask again.

The image is visible again in color.

Step 9 : Change the Blend Mode to Screen.

The highlights  improve dramatically.

Step 10 : Press CTRL+J to duplicate Layer 1 into Layer 1 copy.

Step 11 : Go to the Channels palette and click on the Blue channel. The image turns black and white. Press CTRL+A then CTRL+C.

Step 12 : Return to the Layers palette. ALT+CLICK the layer mask on Layer 1 copy.

Step 13 : Press CTRL+V to paste. Then ALT+CLICK the Layer mask again.

Step 14 : Change the Blend Mode to Soft Light.

The image looks even better.

To see the before and after. ALT+CLICK on the eye icon of the Background Layer.

Step 15 : Press SHIFT and click on Layer1. Both Layers are highlighted. Press CTRL+G to group the two layers together.

Step 16 : The two layers are now in Group 1 Layer. The Blend Mode automatically changes to Pass Through.

Step 17 : Click the Layer Mask button. A layer mask forms on Group1 layer.

Step 18 : Ensure that the Foreground Color is set to Black. If it is not press x and d on the keyboard to restore the default.

Step 19 : Press b on the keyboard for the Brush Tool. To make a Brush hard press SHIFT+] (right square bracket) and SHIFT+[ (left square bracket) to make it soft. We will be using a soft brush. To make the Brush large press ] and [ to make it small.

Step 20 : I have brushed on the waves which became blown out. This has restored their detail.

Look at the Layer Mask.  The black portions are where I painted.

Step 21 ALT+CLICK the eye icon on the Background layer to see the before and after.

The finished image. 

Other photoshop tutorials are here

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