i've grown layer mask retarded

[starzphalling]

ok so back when i was using PS7.0 layer mask, no problem, i just started coming back to ps the other day, now using CS2, and well i can't figure out why i can't get it to work! tried EVERYTHING, but probably just missing that simple step, and when one of you tell me i'll realize, just how retarded this is! all i know is someone please help or lead me to a good tutorial, i found a bad one yesterday, i got so frustrated , i looked at my computer and said "you die NOW!!!" and shut if off.....well now that we all know just HOW crazy i am, i'm hoping someone is still willing to help me? :lol:

[DaveG]

Go to Layers, make another Layer of some kind that's different from the first otherwise the Layer Mask will not do anything. I like to use Layer Masks when I've decoded a RAW file concentrating on the shadows, while letting the highlights go where they want to. I name it in Photoshop (X1234.psd) and then go back into Camera RAW open it up again and this time I adjust the image for those highlights. I'll "Select All", "Copy" and then move to X1234 and choose Paste.

This will create a new Layer with the different exposure. Now when you go to the Layer's Palette, the top Layer may not be the one that you want to work on. The bottom one is locked until you name it. So double click on that, name it and then you can change the Layer order on the Layer's Palette. Go to the top Layer and select the little icon on the bottom of the Layers Palette, the one with the rectangle and the circle in the middle (third from left). There should be a new object in the Layers palette which represents the Layer Mask and click on that to make sure that you are in Layer Mask NOT on the top Layer.

Make sure that your foregound colour is BLACK and then you use the Brush Tool to "erase" the top layer. If you don't like what you've done, change the foreground colour to White and continue painting. To see what you are doing while you are doing it, use the back slash ( \ ) which will indicate in red where you're Layer mask has been used. You toggle the \ back and forth to turn it on and off.