Need help with layer mask

[munkey]

Calling all pros at PP work, do u have any references to help me? I dont understand how Layer masks work at all, do i apply the blur before or after adding the layer mask to the duplicated layer? Sorry ah sound so noob. Too confusing already.

thanks

[Churchwolf]

Originally Posted by munkey Calling all pros at PP work, do u have any references to help me? I dont understand how Layer masks work at all, do i apply the blur before or after adding the layer mask to the duplicated layer? Sorry ah sound so noob. Too confusing already. thanks

You can actually add your "blur" to the layer mask itself (select it by pressing Alt+left click on the layer mask itself). There is a tutorial here about using a layer mask for HDR, the principal is the same check it out. Hope this helps!

[AlteredVision]

What are you intending to do with the mask / blur?

[munkey]

err say for a portraiture shot, i want to use a layer to blur the facial features, but dont wanna kanna the eyes and lips, eg only the nose.. how do i use the brush tool to paint her up? I give her a black eye instead..

[AlteredVision]

Might I suggest not blurring at all? Looks really unnatural (but yeah, pet peeve of mine). If you want easy, the healing brush would look a lot better. Otherwise, dodge and burn. Can google, or can look at the example below. Lots of other ways to do it.

http://retouchpro.com/tutorials/?m=show&id=272

[munkey]

Orh ya cos i use alot of the healing brush and clone stamp, but sometimes to even out the shadows or bg i need to use the mask.. damn difficult. sigh i dont understand how come the brush that paints black can be used to paint on the face for good results.. doesnt black brush on face spoil everything? lol.

[AlteredVision]

You paint on the mask, not on the picture itself. Need to click on the mask thumbnail (not the photo thumbnail / layer) to select it.

Have you taken a look at the link by the way?

[munkey]

Yes I have ! I am now officially a RETOUCH PRO! Haha, any good sources for High key portraiture? need some help on that..