Layer mask in Elements 2.0

[embdude]

I am trying out a layer mask technique like the one here:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/digital-blending.shtml
but am not able to get it to work in Elements 2.0

I take 2 raw images one exposed for the highlights and one for the shadows and am able to get them togother ok. one as the background and one as layer 1.

However I am unable to paint on the top layer and get the bottom to shine through. I just end up really painting! Someone said I need to select the layer as a mask? How do I do this, I canot find such a command. I can create a blank mask but it dosent affect the other layers....

What am I doing wrong?

[Goofup]

There are no masks in Elements, but you can add them for free. Try either:
Grant's tools: http://www.cavesofice.org/~grant/Challenge/Tools/Files.html
Shipley's tools: http://member.melbpc.org.au/~pshipley/

Either will give you layer masks (and curves, etc.)

[DavidEB]

There's a work around. make a duplicate layer of the top layer, turn off visibility (so it's just there as your backup in case you screw up the next step, which I always do).

now select the eraser tool, and remove the parts you don't want visible from the top layer. You get the same effect as painting on a layer mask but in reverse (eg, instead of painting in the parts you want, you paint out the parts you don't want). you can reduce the opacity of the layer so you can see what's underneath.

gets the same result without contortions of trying to imitate layer masks.