layer mask

[sylvia1065]

Hi,

Is there a way to lower the opacity of the layer mask without affecting the layer it's attached too?

I use layer masks a lot when I (don't) want some of the effect/filter to affect parts of the paintings, so I was wondering if it was possible to lower the opacity of the masked layer in case I got too enthusiastic with the brush.

I know I can play with the opacity of the brush itself, but sometimes it's the whole mask I want to tone down.

Thanks for your help,

Sylvia

[Tpage]

duplicate the layer and turn off the duplicate layer so you've got something to go back to if it goes wrong, then select the layer mask and do a levels adjusment on it.

[sylvia1065]

"select the layer mask and do a levels adjusment on it."

Level adjusments affect the whole picture, not exclusively the layer mask...

[chillin]

Could you use indirect masking? sample here

[sylvia1065]

Thanks so much, Chillin, it works!! Excellent!
Sylvia

[Tpage]

Originally Posted by sylvia1065

Level adjusments affect the whole picture, not exclusively the layer mask...

If I understand what you are asking correctly, then select the layer mask which will be black/grey/white depending on what you've painted into it (Not the layer but the mask) then using the levels control CTRL (CMD) L and use the output levels black & white arrows to adjust the effect.

[sylvia1065]

OK, I guess I hadn't tried it properly. I had clicked on the mask and gone to level adj. but it hadn't worked. I guess it was not selected properly. My apologies.
Thanks!
Sylvia

[Morleyuwm]

Start by selecting the layer mask that you want to adjust by clicking on it. Then go to image/adjustments/BrightnessContrast. Using the sliders you can adjust the amount of masking done by the layer mask. When you get the results that you want just click OK.

This works by changing the black areas of the mask to gray. The lighter the gray the less masking it does, which is effectively the same thing as changing the opacity of the mask.

[DannyRaphael]

Originally Posted by sylvia1065

Hi,

Is there a way to lower the opacity of the layer mask without affecting the layer it's attached too?

I use layer masks a lot when I (don't) want some of the effect/filter to affect parts of the paintings, so I was wondering if it was possible to lower the opacity of the masked layer in case I got too enthusiastic with the brush.

I know I can play with the opacity of the brush itself, but sometimes it's the whole mask I want to tone down.

Thanks for your help,

Sylvia

I'm not sure of the specifics of your workflow, Sylvia. So let's assume you have a layer named "A".
* Duplicate A
* Apply filter/plugin to A dup
* Add a "hide all" layer mask to A dup
* Airbrush white onto the layer mask to selectively reveal the effect
* Lower opacity of A dup as needed

...Would something like this help?

[sylvia1065]

Thanks for the answers, Morley and Danny, but Chillin and Tpage already solved my problem with their solutions.
Have a nice day!
Sylvia