GabrielM and firstdefence,
I would have posted the result sooner but I wanted to try out both approaches and on multiple files to see if I can repeatedly obtained the desired results. It seems like GabrielM's approach works very well:
"Try this:
File > Open. Select both files. This will create 2 windows/documents.
Copy the image layer from one document. Move to the other document and Paste. This will place it in place - if they both have the same dimensions, they will be perfectly aligned.
Arrange them in the layer stack with the mask on the top, and the beauty pass on the bottom. Select the mask image, go to Layer > Rasterise to Mask "
Thank you all just the same for helping me. I consider this the very best of internet...a few peoples willing to spend time and patiently help a complete stranger! Thank you! I hope someday I will be able to do the same helping complete strangers with my meager skill set.
TPham got a reaction from Roger C in Help needed with precise mask layer