Masking Technique

During the PP'ing in PS (CS3) I'm using two images, one exposure for the dark sky and another exposure for the bright FG. Then copy one on top of the other. After adding a layer mask I would like to know how to remove the top layer to reveal the sky below without affecting the trees, branches and leaves on the top layer.

Thanks for your time
Frank

May we see the two images?

Your best bet would be to use Channels with Calculations. This result in a new channel that you then clean up w/ levels, dodge/burn and painting white/black where needed.

An example of a channel I made for a composite:

Outstanding! This is exactly what I've been looking for. Been searching for a step by step tutorial with no avail.

I can create a video if you'd like but if you search google there should be plenty there.

https://www.youtube.co​m …ry=masking+usin​g+channels

DagoImaging wrote in post #18569095
you then clean up w/ levels, dodge/burn and painting white/black

Very clean mask.

Please explain a little about your workflow for :
(clean up w/levels, dodge/burn, and painting white/black)

I will make a video or I'll end up typing to much. I'll work on that today.

Check out Phlearn. Great videos and photoshop tutorials. The masking one goes over a number of different methods and when/why you'd use each: https://phlearn.com …and-cutting-out-subjects/

https://youtu.be/0zJXI​k4yK4Y

Hope this is helpful.

DagoImaging wrote in post #18569715
https://youtu.be/0zJXI​k4yK4Y

Hope this is helpful.

Very helpful ... thanks for taking the time to put it together.

s1a1om wrote in post #18569628
Check out Phlearn. Great videos and photoshop tutorials. The masking one goes over a number of different methods and when/why you'd use each: https://phlearn.com …and-cutting-out-subjects/

Requires subscription. Ten bucks a month. Please do not post ads that border on spam like this unless you clearly label it as costing $$$

Picture North Carolina wrote in post #18570316
Requires subscription. Ten bucks a month. Please do not post ads that border on spam like this unless you clearly label it as costing $$$

That's like saying not to post a recommendation for "Light Science Magic" when someone asks about lighting techniques because books cost money. I have no relationship with the company, other than having learned a lot from them (mostly their free videos on Youtube). I recently (last month) decided to subscribe for a year because their free videos were so useful (to me). One of the first videos I opened was the one I linked to on masking and I again learned a ton from it. Since the OP was asking about masking techniques, I thought they may also find the videos useful.

Not spam at all. Just recommending a resource I find invaluable for learning Photoshop.

I love PHLearn free videos and realize their paid videos are probably that much more in depth, I'm just not willing to fit the bill. I have no problem w/ your post but do agree you should mention when you suggest something like that, that you note that it's a paid subscription. Either way, makes no difference to me.

I also don't see the need for the paid side of it as there as so many free videos it's hard to not find what you need to get something done. Another that I watch a lot is Nemanja Sekulic. His videos are excellent.

Picture North Carolina wrote in post #18570316
Requires subscription. Ten bucks a month. Please do not post ads that border on spam like this unless you clearly label it as costing $$$

Not even close to spam. Subscription is one way people are paid for their labor.

That people like Dagomaging are generous with their time and talent does not make it necessary to provide warnings for pay services. From my perspective it's actually good for us to support talent.