Understanding masking (Page 2): When you can’t/ get it ..., via the lens is correct; .., works every time ...either take a photo class on masking .., hands on ..., or contact the local...

Dr.Nikon Loc: Honolulu Hawaii

When you can’t/ get it ..., via the lens is correct; .., works every time ...either take a photo class on masking .., hands on ..., or contact the local photo club and ask for a student tutor ....in 1 hour .., you’ll grasp it and then practice from there ....

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Iankahler wrote:

I know a lot of us use Photoshop, and other so... (show quote)

Masking is one of the core tools of image editing, enhancement, manipulation and compositing.

This may help answer why you may want to use a mask, with examples.

https://designshack.net/articles/graphics/a-complete-beginners-guide-to-masking-in-photoshop/

https://www.photoshopessentials.com/basics/layers/layer-masks/

https://digital-photography-school.com/getting-started-with-layer-masks-in-photoshop-a-beginners-tutorial/

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Gene51 wrote:

Masking is one of the core tools of image editing, enhancement, manipulation and compositing.

This may help answer why you may want to use a mask, with examples.

https://designshack.net/articles/graphics/a-complete-beginners-guide-to-masking-in-photoshop/

https://www.photoshopessentials.com/basics/layers/layer-masks/

https://digital-photography-school.com/getting-started-with-layer-masks-in-photoshop-a-beginners-tutorial/

Right On!

traderjohn Loc: New York City

bsprague wrote:

This may NOT be what you meant, but using masking.... (show quote)

"Take a picture of a scene with an ugly tourist in it" Easley identifiable by a camera and a more equipment than a person needs. That ugly tourist?

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Masking is far from being a toy for graphic effect. I use it regularly in my processing. To put it plainly, it's invaluable and the reason I don't use Lightroom.
--Bob

Iankahler wrote:

I know a lot of us use Photoshop, and other so... (show quote)

Maik723

Iankahler wrote:

I know a lot of us use Photoshop, and other so... (show quote)

Download and learn Affinity Photo. I had the same problem until I did this.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Iankahler wrote:

Thank you guys, for your input. br @bsprague, yes... (show quote)

It might help if you uploaded a screenshot of your practice session in PS with the failed effort at masking. Perhaps some of us could tell you where you might have got off on the wrong path. It is hard, from this discussion, to know which part of masking is confounding you, so we are only able to offer general advice and resources to learn more.

I will reiterate that the battle is worth fighting.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

Iankahler wrote:

I know a lot of us use Photoshop, and other so... (show quote)

At the risk of sounding overly simple, just play!

Place any image in PS. Add any later above it (image containing or adjustment layer, it does not matter). Ad a white mask to the upper layer, then paint on the layer with differing shades of gray, from black to white or just fill the upper layer's mask with a black to white gradient. You will then see how differing shades of the mask can be used to conceal the effect of the layer they belong to.

The reality can be much more complicated, but this should get you started. We are not going to even touch on layer opacity, etc.

You might also want to look at this tutorial. I think it is better than many.

HTH

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

Iankahler wrote:

Thank you guys, for your input. br @bsprague, yes... (show quote)

Do not belittle yourself. Get into the sandbox with an image you really don't care about and play. Don't wait until you need the tool to learn it (although I am guilty of this myself at times). Nibble away at it, don't try to gulp it down.

ngrea Loc: Sandy Spring, Maryland

I can see your point. The part of masking that I find difficult is the painting. My hand isn’t as steady as I’d like, so I need to work at a very large magnification and at large magnification it can be hard to find the exact edge you want to paint to. It becomes a tedious zoom-in and paint, zoom-out and check task. Sometimes I just give up because I have enough pictures that I’m satisfied with that don’t need masking. But then sometimes I want to do something that does need to be masked. So I share your frustration.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

[quote=Linda From Maine]At its most basic: in whatever area of the mask you paint black, the edit does not show.

For me, that’s the part that’s hard to get a handle on. It seems backwards to me. It’s because the background layer is always on the bottom and you’re looking down through the others to it. So "black reveals" means that black reveals what’s under the layer you’re working on because it conceals the layer you’re working on. I think that’s it but I might have that backwards. 🥴🥴

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Iankahler wrote:

I know a lot of us use Photoshop, and other so... (show quote)

It is an advanced and tedious technique for Selection and working with Layers. I've never attempted it with out instruction from an expert. I'm not sure what hype you've heard. I've never even seen it discussed on the UHH before.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

gvarner wrote:

"At its most basic: in whatever area of the mask you paint black, the edit does not show."

...It seems backwards to me.

... black reveals what’s under the layer you’re working on because it conceals the layer you’re working on...

You've said that well, and it is exactly why was so hard for me to get also: it does seem backwards! As Minnie and others have advised, one needs to just do it. Make it become more about muscle memory than thinking. Practice, practice!

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

rmalarz wrote:

Masking is far from being a toy for graphic effect. I use it regularly in my processing. To put it plainly, it's invaluable and the reason I don't use Lightroom.
--Bob

I don't see the Lightroom's lack of masking ability as a reason to not use it. I use Lightroom for 100% of my images, to pre-process raw files so that I can have a nice, clean, tonally and color adjusted image with the least amount of effort, before I start doing the finish work in Photoshop - they really do work extremely well together. And I do masking on at least 75% of my images. And I find LR's catalog invaluable for organizing my photography.

Saying that Lightroom doesn't do masking and that's why you don't like it is like saying you don't like hammers because they don't drive screws. Just sayin'

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

lamiaceae wrote:

It is an advanced and tedious technique for Selection and working with Layers...

Far less tedious than selection tools IMO and as Gene and others have said, an invaluable - and common - part of working with layers.

Here is an example of not tedious. I replaced the background in the below. All I did was place the texture layer on top of the original bird/branch image, create a layer mask, then paint with black the areas I wanted to show through. Imagine having to make selections with a "marching ants" selection tool to achieve the same result!

A little zooming in and using small brush for the head area, but the rest - very simple. And with the added benefit of being able to do at lower opacity (gray) in some areas for "partial effect."