robinp Posted May 2, 2019 Share Posted May 2, 2019 I'm having an issue using a raster image as a mask for a layer. If I use copy and paste it always creates a new layer, it doesn't add the raster info to the mask. If I have the raster I want to use as a mask as a separate layer above the layer I want to apply it to and then use 'mask to below' it adds it to the correct layer as a mask but without any of the raster info. It has a 'crop' tool symbol shown over it which suggests it is now placed as an object rather than a raster. The mask icon shows as blank. Basically, I cannot figure out how to add a raster image as a layer mask currently. Every approach I have tried results in failure. Seems like a series of bugs to me. Please help! I'm finding this incredibly frustrating. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinp Posted May 2, 2019 Author Share Posted May 2, 2019 I should add that in trying to do this, APhoto is crashing very regularly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinp Posted May 2, 2019 Author Share Posted May 2, 2019 (edited) And... part of this problem seems to stem from APhoto over eagerness to create new layers for everything. Why on earth can I not just copy and paste some raster data to a layer without it creating a new layer. Every. *&%($. Time. ? Surely it should be possible to simply select (with marquee) the pixel data required, copy and then paste that into the layer mask? But, oh, no, you just end up with another layer. Joy. edit: all of the problems described so far on this thread (except for crashing) are also occurring on the release version of APhoto (1.6.7). This makes me worried that the behaviour is by design which would be pretty nuts. Edited May 2, 2019 by robinp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinp Posted May 2, 2019 Author Share Posted May 2, 2019 Having experimented a bit further, I think the 'mask to below' tool is actually working. The problem is that the mask is not functioning properly. The reason for thinking this is that if, having done 'mask to below' I then choose 'edit mask' the correct image is displayed in the mask. However, it is not affecting the layer it should be masking. Why not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinp Posted May 2, 2019 Author Share Posted May 2, 2019 (edited) Video showing the mask to below working, but the mask then failing to function at all. This is definitely not right @MEB. If I make a mask and paint pixel info then the mask works fine and as expected. Edited May 2, 2019 by robinp removed video for copyright reasons (as in, it is ours) and it served its purpose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lepr Posted May 2, 2019 Share Posted May 2, 2019 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinp Posted May 2, 2019 Author Share Posted May 2, 2019 7 minutes ago, >|< said: When an object is mask-nested in another, the object's alpha is used as mask alpha. There are a couple of ways to proceed, depending on whether you want to non-destructively or destructively create a mask from an image. Mask To Below will mask-nest an image in an object and the alpha of the image pixels will be used as a mask, so if the image is entirely opaque it will not hide anything. A Channel Mixer adjustment can be nested in the image before the image is mask-nested in an object, and the Channel Mixer used to non-destructively map the image's grey levels to alpha. Rasterise To Mask will destructively convert an image to a mask with the grey levels of the image pixels converted to the mask's alpha. Hi @>|< thank you, that's very helpful. I had just found the Rasterise to Mask tool which had mostly resolved the issue. I do find it very counterintuitive that, even when a layer has no alpha (ie a pasted JPEG) using the 'mask to below' feature still doesn't work. There is nothing that gives you any visual indication that the mask being applied is the alpha (or even a non-existent alpha) other than perhaps the thumbnails being blank. When using Mask to Below, it would seem logical and much more user friendly to ask the user which channel they wish to use as the mask, and ideally, to be able to change that selection at a later date. My points about not being able to copy and paste raster info around without creating a new layer is still valid though. It drives me around the bend! Robin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts