Step 5- Using Filters to Distort A Quickmask

One of the most exciting ways to modify a quickmask is by using filters. Filters will effect an active mask in the same way that they effect a standard set of pixel values, (excluding color modifications). This means that you can apply a texture or pattern to a mask, which in turn can become a texture selection for you to fill with a color, or another image, or to simply delete to the background. The general range of effects that can be applied to a mask are as follows:

• Sharpen/blur filters- Apply special Sharpen/blur effects to a mask, such as motion or radial blur filters. Explore the Sharpen /Blur submenus to appreciate the full range of options.
  
• Texture effects- Apply textures or patterns with any of the filters found in the Artistic /Brush Stroke /Noise/ Sketch /or Texture submenus.
  
• Distortion effects- You can apply twirl or wave patterns to a mask using the filters found in the Distort /Render /and Other submenus
  

The following step by step will apply multiple filters to a Quickmask. It shows the basic procedure for filtering a mask, as well as giving an indication of how filters can be combined for more complex results

Filtering a Quickmask

1. Enter quickmask mode by selecting the quickmask mode button
   
2. Select Filter>Noise>Add noise. With the Preview button selected, you will see the noise mask effect that will result(Figure 18.8). Adjust the various noise controls until the desired noise effect is achieved, and click OK.
   
3. Select Filter>Artistic>Palette Knife, and modify the settings to create a random speckle effect. I had to lower the stroke size way down, and increase the softness to create the effect shown in figure 18.9. Click OK to apply the effect.
   
4. Select Filter>Distort>Wave and modify the settings to distort the pattern(Figure 18.10). Click OK to apply the effect.
   
5. Exit Quickmask mode to convert the mask to a selection.

Figure 18.8-Apply the Add Noise filter to a Quickmask.

Figure 18.9- The settings and preview for applying the Palette Knife filter.

Figure 18.10- The results of the Wave filter.

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