LEVEL: BASIC
Layer masking is one of several doorways that will boost your Photoshop skill, learn the proper way
to do it with this long awaited step by step tutorial.
Enjoy! –Scotty
Open Your Image
First thing is first, lets start out by
opening an image you wish to mask out
of it's background. In my example I've
used this hottie cheerleader chick , that
you can get by clicking here.
Either click File from the menu, then Open;
Or use the shortcut CTRL+O.
Unlock Background
Layer
Since we opened the image, we have to
unlock it to perform actions on it. In the
layer tablet, hold down ALT and DOUBLE
CLICK the layer name on the layer
'Background'. This will unlock the layer for
use. Notice the little lock on the right
vanished? Now it's safe to continue...
Add A Mask
Next your going to actually add a blank
mask over top of the image. Click the
'Add Layer Mask' button located in the
layer tablet.
Select Brush &
Size
Next click on the 'Brush' tool in the
toolbar. Now we're going to choose a
brush size, RIGHT click on your
image, a window like the one on the
right should pop-up with a selection
of brushes, select a solid medium sized
brush.
In this example we are using a Size: 13pt
SOLID brush.
Erase with Black
Ok, now zoom in along the edge of
the object, not too much, but just
enough where as you can freely
move the brush around the portion
of the image. Now Reset your colors
to default by pressing D on the
keyboard, Black should be
foreground color and White
background color, if they are
backwards, hit X on the keyboard to
flip them.
With Black selected, click and try to
follow the edge of your object with
the brush, you should see where you
just brushed vanishing, and the
AdultSpin Simple Adobe Photo Shop 7 Tutorials
transparent checkered board
appearing in the background.
UnErase with
White
Press X to swtich the foreground
color to White. Now brush again on
the same path you just brushed with
Black. As you see White will UnErase,
what you Erased with Black.
Now when masking, get use to
pressing the X button while zoomed
in all the way, to switch colors, to
erase and unerase, to get the perfect
mask
Mask Away!
Continue to use the brush and paint
Black to erase out the background
around your object, once you finish
you should see your object sitting
alone on a checkered background.
Once you have your perfect mask
you can right click on the mask its
self (you should see a mini version of your
object appearing white with everything else
black) on the layer tablet. Then click
'Apply Layer Mask'.
Final Touches
Now either save your image, naming
it something other then the original,
or drag and drop your object onto
another!
Layer masking is one of several doorways that will boost your Photoshop skill, learn the proper way
to do it with this long awaited step by step tutorial.
Enjoy! –Scotty
Open Your Image
First thing is first, lets start out by
opening an image you wish to mask out
of it's background. In my example I've
used this hottie cheerleader chick , that
you can get by clicking here.
Either click File from the menu, then Open;
Or use the shortcut CTRL+O.
Unlock Background
Layer
Since we opened the image, we have to
unlock it to perform actions on it. In the
layer tablet, hold down ALT and DOUBLE
CLICK the layer name on the layer
'Background'. This will unlock the layer for
use. Notice the little lock on the right
vanished? Now it's safe to continue...
Add A Mask
Next your going to actually add a blank
mask over top of the image. Click the
'Add Layer Mask' button located in the
layer tablet.
Select Brush &
Size
Next click on the 'Brush' tool in the
toolbar. Now we're going to choose a
brush size, RIGHT click on your
image, a window like the one on the
right should pop-up with a selection
of brushes, select a solid medium sized
brush.
In this example we are using a Size: 13pt
SOLID brush.
Erase with Black
Ok, now zoom in along the edge of
the object, not too much, but just
enough where as you can freely
move the brush around the portion
of the image. Now Reset your colors
to default by pressing D on the
keyboard, Black should be
foreground color and White
background color, if they are
backwards, hit X on the keyboard to
flip them.
With Black selected, click and try to
follow the edge of your object with
the brush, you should see where you
just brushed vanishing, and the
AdultSpin Simple Adobe Photo Shop 7 Tutorials
transparent checkered board
appearing in the background.
UnErase with
White
Press X to swtich the foreground
color to White. Now brush again on
the same path you just brushed with
Black. As you see White will UnErase,
what you Erased with Black.
Now when masking, get use to
pressing the X button while zoomed
in all the way, to switch colors, to
erase and unerase, to get the perfect
mask
Mask Away!
Continue to use the brush and paint
Black to erase out the background
around your object, once you finish
you should see your object sitting
alone on a checkered background.
Once you have your perfect mask
you can right click on the mask its
self (you should see a mini version of your
object appearing white with everything else
black) on the layer tablet. Then click
'Apply Layer Mask'.
Final Touches
Now either save your image, naming
it something other then the original,
or drag and drop your object onto
another!
