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LAYER MASK PRACTICE

In this assignment, you will become familiar with the use of LAYER MASKS to isolate an object by removing the background.
  • LAYER MASKS are a NON-DESTRUCTIVE way to remove parts of a layer
  • Using the BRUSH TOOL 
  • Paint with BLACK to ERASE
  • Paint with WHITE to bring the object back

Steps...

1. DOWNLOAD THE CAR FILE  

You will be using the file provided to practice you LAYER MASKING skills.
  • Download the FILE below​
  • OPEN the car file in Photoshop 

2. OPEN THE FILE

To OPEN a file, or picture, into PHOTOSHOP so you can work on it you need to choose OPEN 
  • Choose FILE in the MENU
  • Choose OPEN to open a new file  
  • FILE > OPEN > and navigate to your downloads to find the car file
  • OR click the OPEN BUTTON on Photoshop's HOME Screen
  • Save your file as a .PSD (Photoshop Document File) and give it it's proper FILE NAME
  • LayerMASK_Lastname

3. Create a LAYER mask

Here is where you will add a LAYER MASK to your image - there are lots of ways to do it - this is how l like to add my mask.
  • Your PANELS are on the right side
  • Find the LAYERS PANEL
  • Click the RECTANGLE with a circle on the bottom to make an LAYER MASK
  • A LAYER MASK is the white box next to your image in the LAYERS PANEL
  • If you hover your mouse over the buttons at the bottom of the layer panel, it will eventually tell you what it is...

4. BRUSH TOOL

  • Make sure you have the LAYER MASK SELECTED in the LAYERS PANEL and not your image
  • Use the BRUSH TOOL to erase the background
  • Change the SIZE of your brush when you need to 
  • Paint with BLACK to ERASE  
  • Paint with WHITE to bring back​
  • ZOOM IN so you can see all the details
  • The little black and white button fills your foreground and background colors with pure black and white
  • The double arrow button switches the background and foreground colors

5. ZOOM TOOL & HAND TOOL

The ZOOM TOOL allows you to ZOOM in and out and the HAND TOOL lets you slide your image around to work.

You may want to ZOOM-IN to trace the details of your image to make it easier to see what to erase.

GOOD  KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS TO KNOW
CTRL+ Zooms in 
CTRL- Zooms Out
SPACE BAR is the MOVE TOOL

6. CUT THE BACKGOUND OUT

Your goal is to use a LAYER MASK to cut out the entire background including the inside of the windows
  • When you have removed ALL of the background, make sure to APPLY your LAYER MASK
  • Bring your mouse over your LAYER MASK in the LAYERS PANEL
  • RIGHT CLICK over the LAYER MASK and choose
  • APPLY LAYER MASK
  • This should remove all the background

Finished work

SAVE as a .PNG Image File

Now it is time to convert your .PSD file into a .PNG to turn in.
In the MENU commands -
  • Choose FILE
  • then SAVE A COPY...
  • then NAME your file properly LayerMASK_lastname
  • then choose "Save as type" .PNG
  • PNG FORMAT OPTIONS window choose Large file size
  • Now click OK!​
If you choose SAVE or SAVE AS...
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There is no option to save as a PNG when your click SAVE or SAVE AS
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You need to first click SAVE A COPY to get to the PNG option
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You can now choose the plain PNG as your file type
BE SURE TO CHECK THE FOLLOWING WHEN YOU ARE DONE...

          Make sure to name your file:   LayerMASK_lastname

          Make sure to SAVE your file as a PNG

          Make sure to SUBMIT both your .PSD file and your .PNG file in SCHOOLOGY for assessment!
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          Before you turn in your file check the RUBRIC in Schoology to see what will be assessed!