CS4 – Use BW Image as Layer Mask

[Christina Rodriguez]

Did you try to “Select All” and then paste? Perhaps that will work.

C.R.

[Darby Edelen]

[Stephen Rutherford] “I thought, in the past, I was able to simply copy/paste the image INTO the layer mask, directly (i.e.–activating the layer mask only).”

This is how it should work in CS4.

My process is to copy the image, opt-click (alt-click in Windows) the layer mask to view it, then paste.

If that’s not working you could create a new alpha channel in the channels tab, paste the black/white image there, command-click (control-click on Windows) the channel to make a selection and then make a layer mask from that selection, but that’s a round about way to get there.

Darby Edelen

[Stephen Rutherford]

Thanks! I honestly didn’t know the ALT+Click trick! Good to know!

I also just found another thread that pointed me in a good direction, but you have to do things in a specific order:

1 – Select the layer mask on the layer to be edited
2 – Go to the Channels palette and view/select the layer mask only
3 – Paste the BW image into the layer mask

ALT+Clicking is much more straightforward and worked like a charm.

Thank you all for your assistance!

Stephen Rutherford
Graphics Producer: Gale Force Media, CanesVision & Wolfpack TV
stephenr@carolinahurricanes.com
https://www.facebook.com/swrutherford
https://www.twitter.com/CVHD

CAROLINA HURRICANES: 2006 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS!

Current System Configuration:
Intel i7 920 PC 2.67 GHz
Windows Vista Ultimate 64 Bit
12 GB DDR3 RAM
NVIDIA GeForceGTS 250 512MB DDR3

Adobe Production Premium CS4
3D Studio Max 2010