RP Tutorials - - The Awesome Power of Layer Masks - Page 2

hpycmpr · #16 02-21-2005, 09:13 AM

Hi, New member here. I got red-x instead of picture when viewing this tutorial, but have not problems with any other tutorials. Read the following page and shut down ZoneAlarm, and still have problem. Please help!
http://www.retouchpro.com/pages/red-x.html

CJ Swartz · #17 02-21-2005, 10:45 AM

hpycmpr,

First of all -- make sure you turned ZoneAlarm back on! I have used ZoneAlarm for several years, and have never even had to add RetouchPro to my list in Program Control -- everything has always worked fine. The most you should ever have to do is tell ZAlarm "yes" if it asks you for permission to access something -- that YOU are asking it to do -- you never have to turn it off to let something work. ("Never" means never while doing the things that I've had to do -- there may be an exception

)

Second -- I just checked the images -- and I see red X's also!! Vikki may have changed her images or links at Pbase, or it may be a Pbase problem (they've been having some problems for a few months).

Email "the janitor" (the BOSS), Doug, at dnelson@retouchpro.com and let him know about the problem. He can get in touch with Vikki or you can try emailing or Private Messaging her (click on her name in a post and bring up her profile -- it will show links for email or messaging.

DannyRaphael · #18 02-21-2005, 10:59 AM

Sorry you're having problems. It's not just you... I'm getting Red x's (now) too. I don't know if the tutorial images are supposed to be linked to Vicki's pBase site, but you can try checking

http://www.pbase.com/vhansen/miscellaneous

...starting with the 2nd image. Not as convenient as having the pics right in the tutorial, but better than none.

In the mean time the following are very good tutorials on masking:
* http://www.webreference.com/graphics/column23/
* http://www.vrya.net/ts/photoshop7.php
* http://www.vrya.net/ts/photoshop1.php

As CJ suggested, contacting Doug Nelson would be my next step.

~Danny~

hpycmpr · #19 02-21-2005, 11:53 AM

CJ and Danny, thanks for confirming that you are also seeing red-x. I'll bring this to the Boss's attention. BTW, I was desparate when I shut down ZoneAlarm. Not my normal procedure. :-)

I'll check out the other mask links. Every time when I thought I had masks nailed, some new info would pop up. It would be great if we can have a compilation of mask definitions and uses, such as shadow mask, contrast mask, etc. There must be an exhaustive list. Yes?

Vikki · #20 02-21-2005, 05:04 PM

It should be ok now. I've uploaded the images here, so hopefully this won't happen again.

CJ Swartz · #21 02-21-2005, 05:32 PM

Vikki -- thanks, all the images show in my browser now! It's an important tutorial, and I'm glad that it's back online as it was written.

hpycmpr, hopefully you're a "happy camper" and can read the tut and see the images all in one place. Layer masks are such a handy technique to master, you'll be able to do so many more things easier with this tool in your toolbag!

hpycmpr · #22 02-23-2005, 08:19 AM

Vikki and CJ, I can see the images now. Thanks.

I like this site already. With quick responses like yours, it's easy to be a happy camper.

DannyRaphael · #23 03-03-2005, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hpycmpr

It would be great if we can have a compilation of mask definitions and uses, such as shadow mask, contrast mask, etc. There must be an exhaustive list. Yes?

I've never run across an exhaustive list, but I'm sure somewhere on the net there must be such a thing.

Just found an excellent tutorial on Contrast Masking:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tu...-masking.shtml

~Danny~

hpycmpr · #24 03-04-2005, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DannyRaphael

I've never run across an exhaustive list, but I'm sure somewhere on the net there must be such a thing.

Just found an excellent tutorial on Contrast Masking:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tu...-masking.shtml

~Danny~

Danny, thanks for the pointer. I was aware of that link and a few others on contrast masking. After digesting and using them, I realized that "contrast masking" really means a way to enhance local contrast, instead of creating such a mask. It is very useful though, and has been part of my workflow. Do you happen to know any tutorials on shadow mask and saturation mask?

DannyRaphael · #25 03-04-2005, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hpycmpr

Danny, thanks for the pointer. I was aware of that link and a few others on contrast masking. After digesting and using them, I realized that "contrast masking" really means a way to enhance local contrast, instead of creating such a mask. It is very useful though, and has been part of my workflow. Do you happen to know any tutorials on shadow mask and saturation mask?

SATURATION MASKS

Glenn Mitchell did a nice tutorial on Saturation masks. He's got a lot of good stuff a his site: http://www.thelightsright.com
* Tutorial: http://www.thelightsright.com/Digita...edChannels.pdf

Since you're familiar with LL, you've probably seen this one, but I'll include it for those not familiar with it:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tu...-clipped.shtml

SHADOW MASKS:
* Flora talks about them in this tutorial (about 1/2-way down):
http://retouchpro.com/tutorials/?m=show&id=138

* To my knowledge there's the method she describes and another where you invoke Select > Color Range > Shadows to create the shadows' selection, then Ctrl + J to create the mask layer.

* I found this one via Google...
http://www.gurusnetwork.com/tutorial/depth_mask/

It's based on type effects, but looks conceptually like it would apply to any situation.

~Danny~

hpycmpr · #26 03-06-2005, 06:35 AM

Danny, thanks for the references. I'll check those out and probably will have questions.

durob44 · #27 03-15-2005, 06:27 AM

Excellent and simple explained tut, i have learn a lot with this one. Thanks !!

Richard Corbett · #28 04-24-2005, 06:18 PM

I use PSP and thought that this site would accomadte PSP but after trying out The awesome power of layer masks I was lost because it's all Photo Shop. To bad. I thought I had found a great site for retouching using PSP. Thanks. Richard Corbett bexar656@yahoo.com

GillyH · #29 04-25-2005, 02:00 AM

Awesome tool and tut, Vikki! It's magic

Thanks for teaching me something I know I'm going to use again and again.

Gilly

DannyRaphael · #30 04-25-2005, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Corbett

I use PSP and thought that this site would accomadte PSP but after trying out The awesome power of layer masks I was lost because it's all Photo Shop. To bad. I thought I had found a great site for retouching using PSP. Thanks. Richard Corbett bexar656@yahoo.com

Richard:

There are many retouching techniques that are "generic," e.g., dodging, burning, dust removal, etc. that are pretty much the same across most programs. Layer Masks, unfortunately, are application specific mostly in terms of terminology.

I found a PSP-specific tutorial on layer masks that looks promising:
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com...yermasks.shtml

I hope this gets you moving.

~Danny~