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Enhancing one image with a mask created from another
image. Using masks to accomplish this task gives you complete control
over details, though the image on the mask is simply used to set transparency.
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Last time, in Masks are Easy ... Really!,
we looked at mask basics for PhotoShop, Fireworks, CorelDraw and PaintShop
Pro. If you have not see that article, you should probably start there.
Masks really are simple once you have worked through the basics.
This time we are going to dig a little deeper and learn the powerful
features that can change the way you work with computer graphics.
We'll also take a look at masks in Macromedia Flash. By the end of
this tutorial, you will have all the basic knowledge you need to understand
how masks work. Your job will be to discover how your new mask knowledge
can fit into your work patterns. Masks save you time and improve the
quality and consistency of your work.
To unleash the full power of masks, we must be able to save masks.
This provides the opportunity to repeat effects, and combine masks
from one image with another. You can also create masks in other programs
– the possibilities are endless.
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Photos © Tom
Thomson Photography. Used with permission.
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Saving a mask
We will discuss individual programs a little later, but first, we
should review what is is happening when we save a mask.
In Part 1 of this tutorial, we
discovered that masks were simply grayscale images. Black in the mask
represents no transparency, white provides total transparency, and
the grays between provide graduated transparency. This is the information
we can save for later use. However, we need a little more knowledge
to move on to saving masks.
Carry on to the next page to learn about channels and how they relate
to saving masks. We will then move to the individual programs for
step by step instructions on using the basic techniques, as well as
some effects you can try.
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