I need help with photo masks when making a montage.

[pete1459]

I am trying to make a montage using photoshop elements 5.

I have a background photograph layer and a foreground photograph layer.

Both of these layers have an identical family group photograph.

I want to apply a mask to the foreground layer in order that i can expose other photographs positioned in bettween the foreground and the background layers.

The apply mask button is greyed out and will not apply the mask to the foreground layer.

I am desperate for some help please.

Peter.richardson459@sky.com

[Jeff Arola]

Since Photoshop Elelements 5 doesn't have it's own layer masks, you need to hijack one using an adjustment layer like an Levels Adjustment Layer.

Put the Levels Adjustment Layer (Layer>New Adjustment Layer>Levels) below your top layer then click on the top layer, go to Layer>Group with Previous.

Now you can click on Levels Adjustment Layer Mask and paint with a Black brush to reveal anything below.