Okay, I’m feeling really really dense. I was able to move my mask to a Levels layer and make levels adjustments to the selected part of the image (not to the mask itself - hmm I’ll have to ask Linda about that… the mask goes away when I try to use Levels).
But when I did what you suggested and painted along the edges of this pic (it’s not hair but it’s a sculpture that ended up with needing to restore some edge quality) it just painted white over my mask (with layer set to Overlay blend mode). I think I tried the painting on the mask itself and then on the image (in case I was misunderstanding where to paint)… Pls help. Keep it simple… “See Dick. See Jane. Paint Jane paint. White on mask.” etc.
Oh, I wonder if it’s b/c of what Jay is saying above… that I’m not working with the right kind of mask. I’ll try it again using the duplicated layer, open mask then create mask approach.
Firstly you just select the mask and then hit Cntl+L to bring up the levels dialogue box which then works directly on the mask. You can’t really add an adjustment layer to the mask a la non destructive working, but equally you can’t do any damage to your image.
Secondly, yes you paint on the mask itself. A white brush can’t paint over pure black, but it can paint over dark grey. Can you show us a screenprint of the mask? Alt+click on the mask to make it fit the image size.
Ah right, that’s not the best sort of example for getting the benefit of the overlay blend mode, as it has clearly defined edges which are best suited to just painstakingly doing it the hard way. Compare that to Linda’s example where there’s a bit of patchiness on the white near the edge - that’s where it really helps, and on the faint hair surrounded by black outside the main white area
Okay. After I go work out I’ll try it with some grasses or something nature-y (bird?) I’d be more likely to shoot, since I never make portraits. When I - rarely - photo people it’s usually street photography and/or photojournalistic types of shots. And they’re usually on busy backgrounds given that type of photog…
Follow pmeach instructions. You are actually applying the levels command directly to the the mask using Ctrl L (if you are nervous about that, duplicate the layer with the mask first). You are also painting directly on the mask using Paul’s tip about painting with the brush in overlay mode. I’ll look to see if I can find a youtube video for you.
Thanks for finding/posting that! I’ll definitely check it out and try what you guys suggested on some nature/animal photos! I appreciate the tips and y’all taking the time to hunt down good tutorials also.
Oh, I just read this again now that I’m awake to see the fresh snarky language you used.
And, I realized that what you laid out is what I was already doing and advising others to do in other posts b/c of my Ps experience. Unfortunately, I cannot unlike what I thought was a kind post…
I just wanted the MAI program to not require me to go through all the manual duplicating steps that I had already suggested others try in Ps.
OMG, I must lead such an empty life! I just tried this and am so excited given how much compositing I do… I’m going to give you my firstborn!!! Okay, so I’m well past that option and don’t have a firstborn. But, y’know what they say, “It’s the thought that counts!”
Is there a way to create a layer mask from Mask AI as I could in Remask 5? What I would really like is two buttons; Apply Layer and Apply Mask so I have my choice on a case by case basis. Thanks.
And, yes, I know how to create a layer mask from the art layer that Mask AI creates by default. Thanks again.
Hello Bazsl, I do not know how to create a layer mask for the art layer that Mask AI creates by default. I researched your comment a bit and could not find any instructions/information. I would be very thankful if you could send me to a link . Mask AI does not provide a mask out in photoshop plugin and I agree the workflow productivity of AI mask in PS is a headache. I hope they fix it soon. I’m reporting out to my friends to hold off on the plugin for now…
Here’s what I tried using an MAI 1.0.2 gen’d (Ps CC 2019 plugin - Win PC) mask back to Ps Layer. It’s not intended as a masterpiece. More to show I tried the @lmgreene and @PaulM recommended techniques on the MAI gen’d mask. I don’t know if the same capabilities are possible in the MAI standalone… but would be cool. if so.
I duplicated the Ps CC layer before going into MAI and added a white mask to that layer…
I don’t know what you guys are finding, but the Panning seemed to work for me when I 1st downloaded MAI 1.0.2 today, but didn’t work at all tonight. I was back to having to move the Nav box around again to maneuver around the image; in Fill Screen and Zoomed in Views.
On my lighter-resource machines I find that restarting (and thereby restoring my resources) often fixes things like this as the AI apps are really resource-hungry. I don’t experience those problems with my more well-equipped machines.