[lucabrasi]

Im looking at one of Creig Mullins Tutorials and im having some trouble with it.
Here is the link.http://www.wetcanvas.com/ArtSchool/Digital/PhotoshopSuit/
now the thing i dont understand is "Draw your outline or silhouette in a mask channel so you can use it as a selection to paint through and behind throughout the process of painting." Whats a mask channel and how do i make one? and then this " Load your silhouette mask channel so that your figure is selected."Im using photoshop CS.Can anyone explain this to a noob like myself?I would appreciate it.

[Ian Jones]

check out the built in help system... lots of good info on masking. If your still stuck after that let us know.

[lucabrasi]

still stuck.Please someone explain this to me in english.

[CalicoRabbit]

Mask channels are kind of like saved selections, they are created and managed in the masks pallete if I remeber correctly. When you create a new mask channel it apears much like layers do however it reacts differently.

Ian Jones is right though, help should have alot of info on this stuff, alot more than I. Especially since I don't have Photoshop in front of me right now.

hope this helps.

-CalicoRabbit

[Jin]

I hardly ever use Photoshop and shouldn't be the one to answer this question but since the usual crowd of Photoshop users aren't forthcoming, here goes:

lucabrasi,

As others have said, it is important to spend some time learning Photoshop by reading Photoshop Help. Take time to focus on it and read it thoroughly and carefully. Becoming familiar with where to find answers will make life a lot easier for you in the long run. It's tough when you're new to a program, but anyone who wants to learn has to make the effort and not rely on everyone else to do the work.

Since you claim to be stuck, and I can understand that since Craig's tutorial assumes knowledge of Photoshop, and sometimes he doesn't use terminology as you'd see it in Photoshop, here's what I think he means:

1. Create a Layer.

2. Create a Layer Mask.

3. In the Layers palette, click the Layer Mask thumbnail to the right of the Layer thumbnail.

4. Look in the Channels palette and you'll see Layer 1 Mask. I think this is what Craig means when he says "Mask Channel".

5. Highlight Layer 1 Mask, then paint on the Layer 1 Mask with black to create your figure silhouette.

6. Now you can load a selection based on that painted Layer Mask by clicking the Load Channel as Selection icon at the bottom of the Channels palette.

As Craig says, you can load the selection and use it to "paint through it and behind it":

By "paint through it" I believe he means painting through the "hole" in the protected area of the Layer that's the shape of your figure. By "paint behind it" I believe he means inverting the selection and painting the background area with the figure now protected.

Whether the selection is already inverted when you load it so the background is protected, or it's not inverted when you load it and the figure is protected, you can always use Ctrl/Command+Shift to invert the selection and protect the opposite area.

You can paint the background without disturbing the figure (paint "behind it"), or you can invert the selection and paint the figure without disturbing the background (paint "through it").

If you load the selection by using Select > Load Selection, you can check the Invert box and the loaded selection will allow you to paint the figure. Then, if you want to paint in the background, you'll need to invert the selection.

Again, to invert the selection after it's loaded, use Select > Inverse or use Ctrl/Command+Shift+I.


Hopefully that will get you started enjoying Craig's tutorial.

Good luck!


(And read Photoshop Help!)



Jinny Brown
TutorAlley Forums - again open for new registrations
Tutorials and Painter Info at PixelAlley

[lucabrasi]

awesome!Thanks for the help,

[lucabrasi]

oh one problem.When i goto draw it comes out in pink and no other color.

[lucabrasi]

nvm fixed it

[lucabrasi]

this is fuckin retarded.I cant figure this shit out even with reading the help stuff in photoshop.

[glody]

[sweetums]

Also, instead of posting your inabilities to understand, make an effort to try a web search for Photoshop mask channel (or the correct term, which is channel mask) tutorial. There are all levels of explanations out there, you just have to make some effort yourself instead of expecting everyone to continue spoon feeding you.
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[lucabrasi]

i know i know i shouldnt have posted that.I was just so frustrated i had to get it out.

[sweetums]

Well, next time pick up a pencil, or your Wacom tablet and go draw it out instead, okay? Then, when you've gotten over your frustration/anger/whatever, do a search for what you are having problems with. THEN, if you still can't grasp it, you'll at least be able to clearly communicate what problems you are experiencing beyond "I can't get it," and others will be able to help you.
More than likely, though, that won't happen, because you will have found a site that walks you through the technique step-by-step, with clear instructions and background, and you won't have to be frustrated anymore.
Good Luck!
_________________
Life is short. Expect nothing, enjoy everything.
That which does not kill you should make you wiser...

[lucabrasi]

when i try to paint over the layer mask.I click the load selection and when i goto paint on it i can only paint in grayscale.What am i doing wrong?

[cheney]

Channels are working selections exactly as calico said. In a channel there are 101 color values that equal a percentage. All black is color 0, or 0% selected, or 100% transparent. All white is color 100, or 100% opacity selected, or 0% transparent. A grey scale value of 72, for example, would represent a fill value with a 28% transparency.

It is very diffecult to create complex variance in opacity with brushes unless you learn to create your own custom brushes, but this would demand knowledge of channels anyways. This is why it is good to paint texture elements in channels if you wish to create more realistic textures.

For a good example of a realistic texture check out this tutorial by Eyewoo. Before reading the tutorial look at the final image and focus on the wood texture. Look at it and study it. Notice the depth of colors, how they are layered, and how they fade. Once you have studied and disected the texture in your mind then read his tutorial. His tutorial does not really call for channels, but if you don't already know how to paint textures with a quickness then channels might be a good place to start learning. It is easier for us newbies to create each of the paint layers that he created in the tutorial as their own channel. Drag each channel into a selection and fill each into a new layer. This way every aspect can be edited apart from any other aspect of the texture. This is a slower way to create the texture than the tutorial suggests with the quick mask mode, but it will give you a great idea of how to use channels for a complex purpose and how the texture was created.

Also go look for filter fest tutorials online. These tutorials will not make you a better artist, but they will teach you to better use your software. Search google for phong or anders qvicker for some extremely old and basic tutorials on channels and masking.
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