Getting the effect of Multiply on a layer

[yourfavorite]

Alright, so if I have a layer with white in it I can set the layer to Multiply and all the white will disappear. What I'd like is to have the exact same look as Multiply but have the layer mode set to Normal. (in other words how do I remove the white and add translucency where there's color that isn't solid black, like multiply does).

[mistermonday]

If I understand correctly what you are trying to do, then:
- Double click the layer in the Layer Palette to bring up the Layer Styles dialog box.
- Leave the Blend Mode = Normal
- Reduce the Opacity to achieve the amount of transparency you want
- where you see the Blend-If sliders, drag the white triangle at the right of the top slider a little toward the left until the white vanishes.
Screenshots before / after attached
Regards, Murray

[yourfavorite]

That's close but doesn't quite do what I'm looking for. If you'll notice in your after images, where the white was touching other things it leaves jagged edges. Currently what I'm working with is a scan of water colors on white paper. Another example could be a photo of water splashing on white. For example: http://www.clipartof.com/details/clipart/28882.html

If you set this to multiply on top of a layer of medium gray you get smooth clean transparencies with no white. I want to have the image of the water look like this while its in normal mode. I'm assuming I have to do some kind of masking.

[yourfavorite]

Aha! Got a working solution from my buddy Joe:

Go into the channels pallette. Command+ click on the RGB channel, and it should bring up a selection. Go back to the layer and hit delete. Deselect. Then, Layer > Matting> Remove White Matte.

[mistermonday]

The white fringe is there because I got a little sloppy and did not split the triangle and move the slider far enough to the left.
FYI, Joe's solution is what is called "selecting the luminosity" and it will work, but beware, because it selects everything from the midtones to the highlights. So if you have any other colors which are medium to high in brightness, they will be deleted as well.
Regards, Murray

[butlermike]

Can you not also pick the white in the original layer with the magic wand, then go to Select>Select similar and then press delete. That should removes the white or whatever you chose with the magic wand. Generally dematting after this isn't needed i find.

[shift studio]

Also, check out 'peel off white' plugin from Bergdesign. I think it may be just the ticket if I understand correctly.

--Shift Studio.

[Joeven]

Try Ctrl+Alt+Shift+E. That will give you a layer with all the layers underneath combined in normal mode. Then you can get rid of the multiply layer. Is that what your looking for?

Joe