I'm not preaching LOL. I totally know where you are coming from. I usually can't force myself to learn anything that is too involved unless I am fresh out of ideas, b/c like you I'd rather be scrapping. So, most of the time I learn a new technique when I am in a "dry" spell and other ideas aren't knockin' on the door. -Ali

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Ali Folendore
Designing exclusively for Scrapbook-Bytes

Ali, Have you seen the PhotoShop Focus Guides Magazine? They are way awesome. I would love issues on masks, blending, pen tool, on and on my list goes. They are written so simple that even I can understand the steps.
The February filters issue is one of my prize posessions. LOL!

Sallie

I have never heard of that magazine. I will have to look for it the next time I go out. Hopefully books-a-million or walden carries it. Thanks for telling me about it. I'll be sure to keep an eye out! -Ali

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Ali Folendore
Designing exclusively for Scrapbook-Bytes

Another way to blend the photos together is to do a gradient fill on your layer mask. (Remember, black "erases" while white "paints back".) I've seen some really nice montages using this effect. I wish I could show you the example... Let me know if you're interested in this particular way of doing it and I'll go more into detail...
~Marsha

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Thanks Marsha ! I have been reading recently about that masks and gradient fills.

I have been practicing selecting and feathering and have found that it is so easy to do. I will use this method while I learn more about masks.

Sallie

I have used gradients to blend, but not with a mask. I will have to try that out. On "holding onto youth" LO I used a white gradient on the left side to fade the photo on that one side. Never thought of using it with a mask, great tip! -Ali

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Ali Folendore
Designing exclusively for Scrapbook-Bytes