Richard Sibley's "sparkling teeth" tutorial

[Steve]

Chaps, forgive me for being thick...but I'm going to ask this anyway...

Seeing as how Elements 6 does not have "Layer Mask", am I correct in thinking that the same result can be achieved simply by erasing the background/bits you don't want to change using the "Eraser" tool in the "Teeth" layer (to use Richard's example)?

Is the only difference that if you make a mistake using this method, it basically means you're screwed and have to start again...as opposed to being able to "paint white" over your mistake (as it says in the article)?

Sorry...not very good with PS...but want to make an effort to learn this stuff!

[donny]

Not having seen the tutorial mentioned I cannot answer specifically , there may be some little twist in use that I am unaware of but in general you are correct in your assumption that the eraser tool on a new layer will give the same effect at the cost of being permanent.I am assuming that on a new layer you have lightened , brightened or saturated and now wish to remove specific areas.
Don

[RichardSibley]

Steve,

Yep... if you are using Elements you can simply replace the layer mask step and erased the parts you don't need.

I would suggest setting the eraser to a low opacity - maybe around 15-20% and building up the effect. this should help blend the layers.

Obviously you will have to 'undo' if you make a mistake, rather than 're-painting' as you would do with the layer mask.

There is in fact a way of using layer masks with Elements. It will form part of the next Last Resort piece which is going to show a simple way of replicating a graduate ND filter effect. Look out for it in AP 2nd May.

Hope that helps

[Steve]

Steve,

Yep... if you are using Elements you can simply replace the layer mask step and erased the parts you don't need.

I would suggest setting the eraser to a low opacity - maybe around 15-20% and building up the effect. this should help blend the layers.

Obviously you will have to 'undo' if you make a mistake, rather than 're-painting' as you would do with the layer mask.

There is in fact a way of using layer masks with Elements. It will form part of the next Last Resort piece which is going to show a simple way of replicating a graduate ND filter effect. Look out for it in AP 2nd May.

Hope that helps

Thanks Richard. I will definitely look out for the next Last Resort (which, btw, is an excellent way to introduce PS dummies like me to some useful techniques!)

[beejaybee]

If teeth were meant to sparkle, wouldn't God have made them of diamond?

[john_g]

I have to say that I get a bit miffed when I read any of the tutorials that say they are suitable for Elements users, but aren't. Another recent example was the one that detailed a novel sharpening method. Yes, I can now reproduce the effect using Elements, but only because I understood the principles and then worked out a different way of achieving the desired result. Before you publish any more such articles Richard, I'd hope you would load Elements on your machine and make sure that all the tools and techniques you've used are still available.

Oh, and if any Elements user wants layer masks (and who wouldn't?), then I'd suggest looking at the free layer mask add-on, available here:
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pse...ermasktool.htm

[john_g]

Steve, if you do the erase in little chunks rather than one epic effort, then you can always use Undo to recover any step that goes wrong.

The other approach I've found useful is to duplicate the layer that you are going to erase from, so you have two copies of it, and position these above and below the other layer that you're not intending to modify. That way, if you erase too much from the top layer, you can simply erase the equivalent area from the middle layer, revealing underneath the same image section as you've accidentally erased on the top layer. If you see what I mean.

[Steve]

I have to say that I get a bit miffed when I read any of the tutorials that say they are suitable for Elements users, but aren't. Another recent example was the one that detailed a novel sharpening method. Yes, I can now reproduce the effect using Elements, but only because I understood the principles and then worked out a different way of achieving the desired result. Before you publish any more such articles Richard, I'd hope you would load Elements on your machine and make sure that all the tools and techniques you've used are still available.

Oh, and if any Elements user wants layer masks (and who wouldn't?), then I'd suggest looking at the free layer mask add-on, available here:
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pse...ermasktool.htm

Something else I have been thinking about is the option of the original photos being loaded to the internet somewhere so people like me who would like to learn the techniques can actually have a go to see if they can reproduce what Richard is trying to teach us

[RichardSibley]

This weeks Last Resort (2 May) features a boxout on how to use Layer Masks in Adobe Photoshop Elements.

It is a little awkward compared to the full version of Photoshop, but once you have done it once, adding Layer Masks becomes relativley straightforward.