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

Actually, the workshop had the same person in 5 different places - accomplished using a tripod mounted camera, multiple exposures and layer masks.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

Ian, learning anything in Photoshop is about practice, period! Don't just study by reading or watching tutorials. You have to use the tools until you grasp what it is you're trying to accomplish.

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

I agree. I learn by doing more so than by reading 'how to' books. If I can at least pick up from a book what a tool is supposed to do, from there on beat the tool to death until it does what it is designed to do. By that I mean experiment try different things it doesn't cost anything but your time. In the end the rewards will more than pay you for that time. Using only global adjustments is akin to using a sledge hammer when a light touch with a finger tip will do.

Robertven Loc: Fort Worth

I have found the tuts by Ben Wilmore to be excellent and very enjoyable to learn from. Google Ben Wilmore and you can locate them. His explanations of masking are the easiest I have found. His tutorials are all based on Photoshop and Lightroom.

EyeShootWideOpen Loc: Florida

It took me forever to understand the tools in PS. I spent a year opening and closing the program in utter frustration. Do Not Give Up! Years later and I love the specialized editing it makes available to me that can take an ok image and really make it shine! One of my favorite PS tutorialists is Unmesh Dinda of PixImperfect. He keeps it free, breaks it down pretty simply, and covers a lot of features in short little tuts.

d3200prime

No secret to understanding masking just practice. No, masking is not "just a toy for graphic effect" but a tool learned and used by amateur and professional photographers wishing to enhance their work although it can be a play pretty to mess around with. Check out this link: www.udemy.com/mastering-photoshop-luminosity-masks/

Wrabcarroll

Hi Ian,
I have learned a TON of stuff watching photoshop tutorials from PiXimperfect on youtube.
The Guy's name is Unmesh Dindha and He's a young guy that has been using photoshop for 10 years.
He has a good teaching style and teaches procedures as well as concepts.
And he really knows his stuff in my opinion...

Hope this helps.

jjanovy Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

Thanks to all of you who responded to this item!

Iankahler Loc: Seattle WA

And this is why I have come to an impasse... and why I quit masking. I tried again today for the LAST time!!

I understand what masking does. I apparently am not able to comprehend the process.
To the point. I select a photo - I make a duplicate layer - I click on the mask symbol in the layers palette - I hide all layers except the mask layer- I select black or white - I select a brush - I brush.
AND THERE IT ENDS. Final result.... NOTHING. Nothing reveals - nothing conceals.
I get zero result.
End game here - if you guys can make it work, I am very happy for you. I cannot... it is as simple as that. I quit on masks, I have wasted hundreds of hours coming back to this process again and again.
There is only so many times I can flog a dead horse. My brain is that dead horse... it is not going to get up now, or tomorrow, or next week.
I give up.... I am moving on without masks.

DGStinner Loc: New Jersey

When you duplicate the layer, you wind up with two layers with the exact same information so hiding aspects of one copy would only show the same exact image on the underlying layer. That's why it appears nothing is being revealed/concealed.
Try two separate images and put the layer mask on the top layer. Then paint on the layer mask with black (if the layer mask is white). You should then see portions of the bottom layer coming through.

Iankahler Loc: Seattle WA

Then there is something wrong with my software?
I cant get an active mask layer unless I open a duplicate layer.
If I go to the mask symbol and click on that... I get nothing.
Like I said D... I have wasted WAY to many hours on this process. I have seen some beautiful work done with masking, and it is pleasure to see.
However,,, for me there is NO apparent or obvious solution... it is time for me to move on.
I dont know what else to say.... I have looked at, and read SO many offers of a solution... it just doesn't work for me. I will say again, This is a great thread for anyone who can learn from it. I am just NOT one such person.

mhannah Loc: Oak Ridge, North Carolina

Try the Scott Kelby book on Photoshop 2017 edition. I'm a new user and masks are a concept to grasp. He explains the typical uses and has lots of tips. Plus it's not so much a dry instruction manual. You can also go to the web site to run examples from the book real time.
Hope this helps.
Mike

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Well that is true for anything you do in PS, not just masks ( that's a duh)!

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Please consider my previous suggestion that you post a screenshot of your failed masking attempt in Photoshop, showing the layer stack and icons that appear to the right of the main PS screen. We can probably be of more help if we can see what you are doing and figure why it isn't working.

Another try, though, at a simple exercise.
1.Open an image in photoshop, Make sure "layers" is checked under Window in the menu bar.
2.In photoshop click on the image layer in your image stack to the right of the large on-screen image
3.A thin white box will show around this little image icon to show the image itself is selected.
4.Go to the Menu bar at the top of your screen. Under the heading Layer, choose Layer Mask, Hide All
5.Your image will become invisible. It is masked.
6.A little box filled with black should appear beside the little icon of the selected layer in the layer stack.
7.Click on the black box and a thin white line will show around its edge to show the MASK is selected.
8.Choose a brush and select white as the foreground color in the two little paint box icons near the bottom left of your screen. Set opacity at 100%
9.Paint on the checkerboard screen where your image used to be. You will see white begin to show on the tiny black box, and you will see your image reappear as you paint. You are revealing the image hidden beneath the mask.

The reverse is true with a white mask that reveals instead of hides, then you paint with black to show what's beneath.

If you have another layer beneath the image, that is what will show when you choose the black mask instead of the checkerboard screen and what will show when you paint with black on a white reveal mask.

**It was easier for me to learn this stuff by using the commands in the upper menus before trying to use the little icons that are scattered at the edges of the various subwindows. Shortcuts are great but only if you fully understand what they do**.

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

BUT first do something to the 2nd layer so it is different from the 1st one, other wise you will not see anything. For instance if both layers are exactly the same and you erase part of the top layer there is no way to tell that you are looking at two separate layers