CS2 Noob: How do I make a simple mask?

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 >> Stay informed about: CS2 Noob: How do I make a simple mask? 

On Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:15:36 -0500, Joel <Joel.RemoveThis@NoSpam.com> wrote:

>Stefan <jems-goaway-.RemoveThis@mad.dk> wrote:
>
>> Hello group.
>>
>> Being a total noob about PS, I downloaded CS2 tryout some time ago (I
>> know, I know, CS3 is available now...) but I still haven't figured out
>> how to do a simple mask that covers my needs:
>> I have an image that I want to use as texture. Then I want to create a
>> mask that is shaped like a trapez and be able to set the size in
>> milimeters (or inches or whatever; just to set it to a specific size
>> instead of dragging it with the mouse).
>> Can someone tell me how to do this or am I using a completely wrong
>> program for this task?
>>
>> Best regards
>> Stefan
>
> Masking is a type of advanced command which may require you to know or
>master few basic commands before you can be able to learn the "Mask". And
>it won't be easy to post the whole book on Usenet hoping you may be able to
>catch some.
>
> So, I think GOOGLE probably is the best way for you to understand what
>Masking is, and you should be able t learn much quicker by watching the
>Video Tutorial than reading few quick answer which usually only help *if*
>you already know some basic.
>
> And I would suggest to watch several to *understand* what Masking is
>about, or may not be a good idea to learn some specicifc method which may
>and may not work well for you. But whatever you may watch, I would suggest
>you to master the Brushing technique cuz it's a very basic but very useful
>on Masking (and it may take few months or few years of working to master the
>brushing depending on the level's you wanna archive).


Masking is nothing more and nothing less then the masking tape used
when painting your lounge wall. You did stick masking tape to the part
that had to be protected, didn't you? The part you wanted another
color on? And you removed the masking tape afterwards and stuck it
elsewhere for the rest of the alterations, didn't you?
In fact uncle Joel, masking is another one of the selecting tools.
A very sophisticated one, granted, but still a selecting tool.
 >> Stay informed about: CS2 Noob: How do I make a simple mask? 

On 5 Aug, 00:59, John <n... DeleteThis @droffats.ten> wrote:
> Help menu. Type in MASK.
>
> Fer gods sake, you paid an arm an leg for the software, so USE it!

I am sorry, but I am also new to this group and we all have to start
somewhere. Like learning to drive, people forget were were are
learners once and needed help and advice so why not go to the right
place? Its easy to chastise those who may ask a dumb question, but if
you dont ask you probably will never know.

Give us newbies a chance, you were there at one time

By the way I may have asked also some dumb questions earlier, but I
sure appreciated the help.
 >> Stay informed about: CS2 Noob: How do I make a simple mask? 

> Help menu. Type in MASK.

I'll try that.


> Fer gods sake, you paid an arm an leg for the software, so USE it!

As I said, I downloaded the try out to see if it could do the job.

I'll get back with some more intelligent questions if I get lost in the
help

Stefan
 >> Stay informed about: CS2 Noob: How do I make a simple mask? 

"babypink2807@googlemail.com" <babypink2807.TakeThisOut@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:efe36189-53b4-408e-b4d8-3578aaff1913@l64g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
> On 5 Aug, 00:59, John <n....TakeThisOut@droffats.ten> wrote:
>> Help menu. Type in MASK.
>>
>> Fer gods sake, you paid an arm an leg for the software, so USE it!
>
> I am sorry, but I am also new to this group and we all have to start
> somewhere. Like learning to drive, people forget were were are
> learners once and needed help and advice so why not go to the right
> place? Its easy to chastise those who may ask a dumb question, but if
> you dont ask you probably will never know.
>
> Give us newbies a chance, you were there at one time
>
> By the way I may have asked also some dumb questions earlier, but I
> sure appreciated the help.


Baby girl
it's not that the questions are dumb
your questions are just about very BASIC techniques
so people here are saying there is already an ABUNDANCE of info about these
and so many already written and filmed tutorials if you will GOOGLE
or look in the HELP (you tube has many many vids)
Adobe website has MUCHO Materials and instructions

the things you are asking are very elementary to using PS well
it is wise to spend as much time as possible learning selections and masks
(properly no shortcuts) as this is the MOST important technique you will
need for almost any image manipulations of the more complex sort...


open a picture
make a new layer above it and fill with a color like blue
then click the little rectangle with a circle inside at bottom of layer
palette
this makes a white thumbnail next to your blue layer
now click the thumbnail to activate painting on the MASK not the layer
itself
take a paintbrush in black and paint on the mask (not the blue)
to reveal the layer below

this erases the above layer visually but it is still there if edit is needed
any part can be "put back " by using the white brush on the layer

selecting areas with wand or marquee and then click mask will make an auto
filled mask
\TRY IT

erasing will work but will give you grief later, trust me
 >> Stay informed about: CS2 Noob: How do I make a simple mask? 

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 >> Stay informed about: CS2 Noob: How do I make a simple mask? 

On 8/5/08 2:39 PM, in article 9mah94ptuvhs229e80vi1oaehc2m68dsfj.DeleteThis@4ax.com,
"keepout@yahoo.com.invalid" <keepout.DeleteThis@yahoo.com.invalid> wrote:


> So just use the spam filter and ignore that jerk. He obviously has nothing to
> contribute, and feeding his ego, only fills this group more unnecessary spam.
> For future reference he's what's known as a troll for generic identification
> in
> other news groups.

I have contributed more here than you have. So, OP, add keepout to your
killfile.
 >> Stay informed about: CS2 Noob: How do I make a simple mask? 

babypink2807.DeleteThis@googlemail.com wrote:
> On 5 Aug, 00:59, John <n....DeleteThis@droffats.ten> wrote:
>> Help menu. Type in MASK.
>>
>> Fer gods sake, you paid an arm an leg for the software, so USE it!
>
> I am sorry, but I am also new to this group and we all have to start
> somewhere. Like learning to drive, people forget were were are
> learners once and needed help and advice so why not go to the right
> place? Its easy to chastise those who may ask a dumb question, but if
> you dont ask you probably will never know.
>
> Give us newbies a chance, you were there at one time
>
> By the way I may have asked also some dumb questions earlier, but I
> sure appreciated the help.

I've been able to get some answers from people in this group, but I'm
amazed at some of the questions that arrive here, when basic information
on how the program works, available from You Tube, dozens of tut sites,
the public library or, as many have suggested, the Help file, would deal
with them.

As for the driving analogy, some of the questions are like asking a
driving instructor how to make the steering wheel get the car to go onto
a new street.

--
Tim Tayshen

The poster formerly known as Graham Waiffers, Roger Thaat, Watson
deMeneux or Jack Skwaht.
 >> Stay informed about: CS2 Noob: How do I make a simple mask? 

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 >> Stay informed about: CS2 Noob: How do I make a simple mask? 

On Tue, 05 Aug 2008 21:11:22 GMT, Tim Tayshen wrote:

> As for the driving analogy, some of the questions are like asking a
> driving instructor how to make the steering wheel get the car to go onto
> a new street.

As sure as anything, someone will post tomorrow, or the next day, asking
the same exact type of questions that you are complaining about right now.

No matter how much we gripe, newbies are not going to know anything about
what's been asked here before, and that includes complaints from the
regulars about the level of the questions. In many cases they won't know
how to phrase their question effectively, much less google for it.

Everyone who's been around here for more than a few months knows all this.
So what's the real reason to complain about newbies? IMHO it's a form of
group bonding behavior. We define our association by poking fun at people
who don't have their bearings yet - the one's who don't belong.

IMHO taking a swipe at newbies is a mild form of net bullying. It
subtracts from the value of this group, particularly because it's done by
people who should know better.

The tone of the group depends on the regulars here, not the newbies. The
solution is as old as Usenet itself - when a dumb question comes up, either
ignore it or try to help with a pointer to a youtube or a tutorial.
--
Mike Russell - http://www.curvemeister.com
 >> Stay informed about: CS2 Noob: How do I make a simple mask? 

On Tue, 5 Aug 2008 11:35:00 -0700 (PDT), "babypink2807@googlemail.com"
<babypink2807.DeleteThis@btinternet.com> wrote:

>On 5 Aug, 00:59, John <n....DeleteThis@droffats.ten> wrote:
>> Help menu. Type in MASK.
>>
>> Fer gods sake, you paid an arm an leg for the software, so USE it!
>
>I am sorry, but I am also new to this group and we all have to start
>somewhere. Like learning to drive, people forget were were are
>learners once and needed help and advice so why not go to the right
>place? Its easy to chastise those who may ask a dumb question, but if
>you dont ask you probably will never know.
>
>Give us newbies a chance, you were there at one time

He is not yet where you are. People making stupid remarks like this
are not worthwhile to respond to. Follow the directions KatWoman
pointed out...

>
>By the way I may have asked also some dumb questions earlier, but I
>sure appreciated the help.

and remember, there are no dumb questions but only dumb answers.

Dave
 >> Stay informed about: CS2 Noob: How do I make a simple mask? 

<keepout.DeleteThis@yahoo.com.invalid> wrote in message
news:83oh941mo7nq6mcfshetgigqs9a1u9jt64@4ax.com...
On Tue, 05 Aug 2008 21:11:22 GMT, Tim Tayshen <Nevermind.DeleteThis@some.e.mail.org>
wrote:

>> Give us newbies a chance, you were there at one time

If you'll notice there's not a lot of support in actually answering how to
create a mask.

Because no one knows how to create a mask..
Now Trolling, this groups full of them.


--answered her with EXACT and explicit directions

see above
 >> Stay informed about: CS2 Noob: How do I make a simple mask? 

On Aug 4, 2:50 pm, Stefan <jems-goaw....TakeThisOut@mad.dk> wrote:
> Hello group.
>
> Being a total noob about PS, I downloaded CS2 tryout some time ago (I
> know, I know, CS3 is available now...) but I still haven't figured out
> how to do a simple mask that covers my needs:
> I have an image that I want to use as texture. Then I want to create a
> mask that is shaped like a trapez and be able to set the size in
> milimeters (or inches or whatever; just to set it to a specific size
> instead of dragging it with the mouse).
> Can someone tell me how to do this or am I using a completely wrong
> program for this task?
>
> Best regards
> Stefan

Stefan,

Masks are usually derived from a selection and selections can be
created from a path, you can create a path right in PS or in
Illustrator and paste it into PS.

Try starting using the vector based path tool so you can build and
tweak the basic shape as you see fit, this will save you the grief of
having to free hand it with the marquee selection tool. Once you have
a path built to the shape and position you like, convert it to a
selection and save as a Alpha channel, for further editing with your
airbrush or erase tool if need be.

KB
 >> Stay informed about: CS2 Noob: How do I make a simple mask?