Layers and Masks for Beginners and the Mentally Challenged

It took me years of flailing before I took the initiative to learn Photoshop Layers and Masks. I wish I had started sooner because learning Layers and Masks changed photography for me. Photoshop finally became the digital darkroom I had imagined.

I realize that layers and masks can be a tough concept for many photographers to grasp. That's why I wrote a series of basic layers lessons over at my blog. This series of lessons is aimed at Photoshop beginners and those of you that have tried but failed to learn layers and masks. I present the subject in a different way than most texts and tutorials. Hopefully you find these lessons helpful!

Lesson 1 -- Introduction to Photoshop Layers

Lesson 2 -- Introduction to Layer Masks
Lesson 3 -- Photoshop Layers and Masks in Action

Let me know what you think.

From a PP moron, thanks.

No problem! Let me know if it makes sense. It's hard writing stuff for an internet audience. I see the page views go up, but I have no idea if anyone is actually reading and understanding the lessons.

I just recently started using masks. Great writeup, you did not lose me once

Ill definitely read this, I need to brush up on my PP skills...

Thanks for taking the time to explain it.

Thanks! Clarification is a wonderful thing. You definitely have a talent for explaining what is actually happening when using the layers and mask pallet. This has helped me a lot with the understanding of masks and how they actually affect the layer. I look forward to more tutorials.

A good tut for those new to photoshop masking. The one thing I would have added right after brush opacity is a screen graphic showing brush softness. But I know how much work you must have put in to make those tutorials.
Good job!!

Thanks for sharing..

These are great, thanks for sharing.

WesternGuy

Thanks for the tutorials. The examples were clear and concise. I am sure I will refer back to these as I learn more about PS.

Thanks everyone for the great feedback. I'm happy some folks are finding my efforts useful!

I think my next set of PS tutorials will cover curves. I'll go just as basic as this series. Would that be helpful? I think that curves are nearly as important as layers and masks.

Good stuff, thanks

Very cool that you took so much time to put all this together. I am sure this will be a great tool for many struggling with layers and masks.

That is beautifully done. You should seriously consider expanding that to a book, possibly an e-book which could be published on DVDs. it is very helpful to Photoshop neophytes and more experienced hands as well.

Incidentally, I recall seeing your airline pictures on this forum in the past and have missed your regular presence. Some of those pictures were extremely interesting and quite beautiful. I'm glad you have published a book with some of them and I'm going to look into obtaining it. Thank you for the contribution to the forum.

Bruce

Thank you so much for this