Masks

[mkstudio]

I know how to make a layer mask, black or white, but I can't get my masks to consistently make my images lighter and darker when I need to do so.

I want to make layer masks specifcally for one purpose: to lighten and darken areas of a single photgraph. No collages, no blending, just lighter and darker on the same image.

I use the 50% grey layer with overlay technique that Scott Kelby teaches and that enables me to lighten and darken a photograph easily. But I want to be able to make and use layer masks to do this - to lighten and darken - without having to make the 50% layer.

I understand that white reveals, black conceals. I am comfortable with blend modes.
But... when I have a photo, add an adjustment layer with a mask, whether it's black or white when I paint with either a black or white brush on the mask, nothing happens! If I make a change in the adjustment layer I can use the black brush to make areas of the image lighter or darker on the layer mask but the change is so subtle I can barely see the difference and I frequently want to lighten some parts of the image, darken others. Should I be using blend modes to do this???

I know this sounds SOOO basic. But I am still confused. Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

[Tips]

If I'm not mistaken, I believe this is what you are looking for:

See: www.photoshop911.com/masking_channels/levels_masking.html



You've got the right idea. Just fill the mask with black and paint the areas to be modified with a little white.

This is a more pro-active method (to me) where Kelby's "gray" method always seemed like smoke and mirrors intended to remind you that he's the guru and you're not.
:smile: