New Layer with Mask when Refining

[AmyM]

I am using Aff 2, (Win 11). When I do refine, create layer and mask, they show up in new layer, but it took an inordinate amount of time to figure out I had to turn off the background, and duplicate b/g layers, for the mask to work. Is this the normal 'behavior' in ver 2? In every video I have watched, the mask is applied from the refining, and background erased automatically, no other messing around needed. 

I have pixel layer icon with subject on transparent background.

Child mask

dup b/g layer

b/g layer

As stated, the b/g layers I had to 'hide'.

Also, I thought you could click on just the mask, and the selection/marching ants would activate again?

Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks for any help..

[NotMyFault]

Hi Amy,

it is not fully clear what issue you are describing. Any chance you can add some screen recording or screenshots?

Maybe it is just the use of terminology which confused me.

On 9/1/2023 at 8:10 PM, AmyM said:

In every video I have watched, the mask is applied from the refining, and background erased automatically, no other messing around needed. 

When you are using selections and the refine function, it will impact only the selected layer and no other layer within your document. It does not erase anything, it just hides. If you have more layers in the document, those will become visible if you mask some parts of the top layer.

On 9/1/2023 at 8:10 PM, AmyM said:

have pixel layer icon with subject on transparent background.

Child mask

dup b/g layer

b/g layer

As stated, the b/g layers I had to 'hide'.

Can you add the document, or a screenshot? I can't get what you want to say. But is seems you have a duplicate of the background layer. As explained above, those additional layers will not be hidden automatically.

On 9/1/2023 at 8:10 PM, AmyM said:

Also, I thought you could click on just the mask, and the selection/marching ants would activate again?

This is very important: You should distinguish if you are working with selections or masks. Selecting a mask layer does not activate a selection. Only a selection is shown by "marching ants". You may use "refine mask" to temporary show a mask as a selection.

[thomaso]

4 hours ago, NotMyFault said:

On 9/1/2023 at 8:10 PM, AmyM said:

Also, I thought you could click on just the mask, and the selection/marching ants would activate again?

This is very important: You should distinguish if you are working with selections or masks. Selecting a mask layer does not activate a selection. Only a selection is shown by "marching ants". You may use "refine mask" to temporary show a mask as a selection.

@AmyM, maybe you mean ctrl-click on a mask layer thumbnail? This creates an ants selection from a pixel layer content.