Creating an Interesting Layer Mask


There are as many ways to use layer masks as there are ideas in your head. You’re limited only by your imagination. One interesting idea is to create a layer mask using a text cutout. Give this a try to get an idea of what a layer mask can do.

  1. Open an image with layers in it.

  2. Use the Layers palette to select that layer that you want to add a text cutout layer mask to.

    Make sure you select a layer that contains colored pixels; transparent pixels will just create invisible letters. Also, this technique won’t work with the Background layer. In Figure 15-14, the zebra layer is selected.

    click to expand
    Figure 15-14: I’m using the zebra layer as the fill for the cutout text. The layer mask hides the rest of the layer, creating the illusion of text filled with the zebra pattern.

  3. Select the Horizontal Type Mask tool from the Toolbox.

  4. Select the font, font size, and other text settings using the Options bar or Character palette.

    To find out more about the Horizontal Type Mask tool, how to select type settings, and the Character palette, turn to Chapter 17.

  5. Click in the image window and type some text.

    As you type, you’ll notice that the image automatically switches to Quick Mask mode as shown in Figure 15-15.

    click to expand
    Figure 15-15: When typing text with the Horizontal Type Mask tool, the image display automatically changes to Quick Mask mode.

  6. When you’re finished typing, click the Commit button on the Options bar to turn the type into a selection.

  7. Reposition the type selection if you need to.

    To move the selection, use one of the selection tools, not the Move tool. (Position the selection tool within the type selection boundary, press the mouse, and drag the type selection to its new location.) If you use the Move tool, colored pixels under the selection type move as well.

  8. Choose LayerAdd Layer MaskReveal Selection to “fill” the text selection with the layer contents.

    In actuality, you are creating a layer mask that obscures the rest of the layer, only leaving transparency where the type selection is.

    Figure 15-16 shows the zebra layer mask and the text created in the image window by the mask. Notice that the black areas of the mask hide the Zebra layer and that the white areas of the text (which used to be the selection) allow the Zebra layer to show through.

Take a look at the upper left letter in Color Plate 17-1. I used the Horizontal Type Mask tool to create the letter B, and then applied it as a layer mask to create filled type, performing the steps outlined above. Notice all the different effects that can be added to type created in this fashion. The sky’s the limit!

click to expand
Figure 15-16: A layer mask can create cutout type using a layer.




Photoshop CS For Dummies
Photoshop CS For Dummies
ISBN: 0764543563
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2006
Pages: 221

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