Using masks? PSE 3 or 4 - Newbie to PSE - SBB Digital Scrapbooking Forums | Scrapbook-Bytes

Jeanne P. · #1 (**permalink**) 11-23-2005

Does any one know of or have a EASY-SIMPLE tutorial for using the .jpg masks that you can find on the internet. I just bought PSE 4. I can find tutorials for other higher versions of photoshop. How do you use the jpg masks with your photo?

Also Is there a dodge tool in PSE 4. I have looked and don't really see one? Some of the tutorials use dodge & burn.

sprauncey1 · #2 (**permalink**) 11-23-2005

I know that Elements 3 had dodge/burn tools, so I'm sure 4 has them. I would just do a Help search and it should show you what they look like in one of the explanations.

As far as the jpg masks....Are you coming from PSP? Just curious because on my search for jpg masks (I've never heard of them and have been using PSE for a year) and it seemed to be mainly PSP stuff. Maybe someone else can help with those. It has me stumped for now!

Jeanne P. · #3 (**permalink**) 11-24-2005

I bought Photoshop Elements 4 and am a new photoshop user.

Can you tell me where the dodge/burn tool is located in Photoshop Elements 3? I've looked for the tool on the side... it looks like a half round on the end of a stick (according to tutorials) and it is not located in the tool bar. When I do a search for dodge/burn tool in help it brings up a paint option. Arggghhhh!!!

Here is a link to the greyscale masks that download as jpgs.
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/fre...framesmain.htm

I looked at the tutorials too,
perhaps I will have to play around with it until I get it or just learn to make my own.

There are other sites I have come across for greyscale masks too.

TIA for any help!

fox-myers · #4 (**permalink**) 11-26-2005

Jeanne,

Make sure to check out this tutorial on how to create your own masks in PSE. It should work in PSE4 also but I haven't tried is out yet.

If you'd like to do this technique with one of the greyscale masks you've found online you could bring the greyscale mask in as "layer 2" in the tutorial. Once the layers are grouped you can still move around the photo or the mask to adjust what is showing.

The Burn, Dodge and Sponge tools are grouped together in the toolbox in PSE3. I have my toolbox set up vertically so that the move tool and the magnifying glass are at the top and the foreground and background colors are at the bottom. Then the Burn/dodge tool is just above the foreground/background colors on the right. If you're still having troubles finding burn/dodge just hit the O key and one them will automatically open.

HTH and holler if you need more help!

Jeanne P. · #5 (**permalink**) 11-26-2005

It wasn't showing in the tool bar, just sponge and the blur tool.When I pressed the O key it came up along with the burn tool in a box off to the right side. Thank you, thank you! Now I can try out some tutorials. The 'help' menu doesn't even help sometimes (as mentioned above) neither does the book, it's mostly about the catalogue. Any more secrets you care to share?....lol

Thanks, Stacy you'll hear me hollering all the wayto where you live!!!!!!