Masking Question

[Franky Spills]

Hello Everyone.

I have a masking question.

I have an image, it's a grungey, nasty, smearly black and white image... I want to use that as a mask for one of my layers.  I cannot seem to figure out how to make that happen.

I can make a mask for the base layer but if I try to cut and copy the grungey black and white layer into the mask, PS will not do it.

[kevin stohlmeyer · Accepted solution]

Hi @Franky Spills copy the pixel layer using select all/copy. Then select Layer 0 Copy 5 mask. Go to the channels panel and activate the mask channel and paste into the mask channel. Turn the mask channel visibility off after pasting.

[Franky Spills]

Wow... I would've never gotten there.  That worked.  Thanks.

[Franky Spills]

ONe other question.

Can I then apply an individual adjustment layer to just the clipping mask?

[kevin stohlmeyer]

Hi @Franky Spills you can't apply an adjustment to a mask. What you can do is create a clipping mask by using a transparent layer of your grunge image set below your photo, then clip the photo to that and any adjustments as well.

[Franky Spills]

Thanks Kevin.

Not sure I'm quite following you yet.

I take my gunge layer, make it transparent,  Set it below my image and then clip it.  

I'm good through that... but when I do it... my entire canvas turns invisible...

If I add an adjustment now to my grunge layer... nothing seems to happen.  Can you tell me what i'm doing wrong?

See if my attachment helps you any?

[kevin stohlmeyer]

Your opacity is set to 0. There is nothing showing on the Grunge layer...

[Franky Spills]

Hey Kevin.  You still around?  See my question above if you are.  Thank you.

[kevin stohlmeyer]

Hi @Franky Spills yes I'm still here but we are volunteers, not 24 hour support.

[kevin stohlmeyer · Accepted solution]

Hi @Franky Spills I think you misunderstood after looking at your layers panel. You need to have your black grunge on a transparent background - not on white (and not set to 0% opacity).

[Franky Spills]

Thats It.  Did the trick.  Thanks!

[Franky Spills]

Yeah. Totally Understand.