Copy greyscale images into layer mask

[Rainer1]

Hi,

I already wrote about this theme, but I found some other suggestions about it.

I know I can import grayscale information into masks by using cmd + option + click
to create a selection and layer mask after. 

At the moment I sometimes I duplicate  an image layer, convert it into greyscale,
manipulate it by gradation and other tools and finally convert it into selection
and after that into a layer mask.

But all these actions
– Coping layer
– Converting to grayscale
– Creating luminance selection
– Creating mask layer

maybe if possible could be replaced by directly placed image layer content into
layer mask with one button click or menu option and following manipulation
possibilities like gradation and other tools, not only by brushes, directly into mask.
Maybe as "Live-Anpassungs-Ebenen (German)" (Live layers ???)
Advantage: non-destructive and instantly visible result.

Rainer Riedl

[kirk23]

You can paste it over , then " mask to bellow" , and use blend  curve to make darker pixels  transparent .   As well as a whole stack of adjustment layers to do tweaks for that mask  non destructively   

ps.   or use it as a  clipping base   or use erase layer blending  with same blend curve  doing darker or whiter pixels transparent .

Copy/paste something in masks  is so old school and destructive even in Photoshop

[MEB]

Hi @Rainer1,
Press and hold CTRTL+ALT on Windows (or cmd+Alt on macOS) and click the pixels layer's thumbnail to create a luminosity selection from the pixel layer, then click the the Mask icon on the bottom of the Layers panel to create a mask from it.

[loukash]

1 hour ago, MEB said:

Press and hold CTRTL+ALT on Windows (or cmd+Alt on macOS) and click the pixels layer's thumbnail to create a luminosity selection from the pixel layer

It would be very helpful if such essential functions were available upfront, not just by some obscure key combos and clicking targets that need to be memorized without actually knowing how to look it up later.

I, for one, knew that something like that is possible, having read it on the forums months ago and used it a few times since, but in the meantime I forgot which key combo and couldn't figure it out again, until reading your post.

Please tell the devs to follow the Human Interface Guidelines and put any such command in a menu as well.
Or, for a start, at least add tooltips. (Something that Schmadobe's Photoshop got right decades ago…)

Thanks

[Dean Reardon]

On 3/22/2021 at 12:22 PM, loukash said:

It would be very helpful if such essential functions were available upfront, not just by some obscure key combos and clicking targets that need to be memorized without actually knowing how to look it up later.

I, for one, knew that something like that is possible, having read it on the forums months ago and used it a few times since, but in the meantime I forgot which key combo and couldn't figure it out again, until reading your post.

Please tell the devs to follow the Human Interface Guidelines and put any such command in a menu as well.
Or, for a start, at least add tooltips. (Something that Schmadobe's Photoshop got right decades ago…)

Thanks

LOL....photoshop and illustrator had a plethora of those hidden keystrokes. That's one reason why I gave up on it. I find affinity very easy to use in comparison. Not because it is a simpler program but it just seems more intuitive to me.

[loukash]

1 minute ago, Dean Reardon said:

photoshop and illustrator had a plethora of those hidden keystrokes.

Yep. But they also consequently have tooltips with explanations.

2 minutes ago, Dean Reardon said:

I find affinity very easy to use in comparison. Not because it is a simpler program but it just seems more intuitive to me.

Great for you.
Besides, you're preaching to a convert.
And missing the point.

[Dean Reardon]

On 3/22/2021 at 12:22 PM, loukash said:

It would be very helpful if such essential functions were available upfront, not just by some obscure key combos and clicking targets that need to be memorized without actually knowing how to look it up later.

I, for one, knew that something like that is possible, having read it on the forums months ago and used it a few times since, but in the meantime I forgot which key combo and couldn't figure it out again, until reading your post.

Please tell the devs to follow the Human Interface Guidelines and put any such command in a menu as well.
Or, for a start, at least add tooltips. (Something that Schmadobe's Photoshop got right decades ago…)

Thanks

If you look under the Help menu or press F1 and do a search for "luminosity Mask" you will find the Ctrl+Alt+thumbnail command.