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Using seperate images generated by 3d program as masks


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I suppose a simple enough question, but I use a 3D program (DAZ3D Studio) to generate images and do multiple renders including alpha channels (in EXR files), to use as masks in an image editor like Photoshop, but since I have dropped Adobe/Photoshop and all their subscription-based products, I have yet to discover how to load a black and white image (as a selection) into an image. I don't have PS installed anymore and it makes no sense to install PS and pay subscription just to composite the renders before refining in Affinity Photo. I guess I have to unlearn before learning. The tutorials are clear enough but they only really cover creating masks an selections with existing images and not loading a second B&W image as a mask. Any pointers or suggestions?

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You could also use the Channel Panel to generate a mask layer from a b&w layer, it might be an idea to upload an example.

https://affinity.help/photo/English.lproj/pages/Panels/channelsPanel.html

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I guess I have a lot to learn, but here is what I was trying to achieve using the methods and workflow I am used to with CS6 and other more primitive editors like Corel Photo-paint.

The current tutorials mostly cover creating masks from images with Adjustment Layers etc, but I cannot find one that shows you how to "import" a second gray-scale image as a mask or what workflow to use to achieve the same result.

I use DAZ3D Studio to render images including various passes for depth maps and alpha maps. Combining these separate renders in Affinity Photo is what is baffling me.

Below are screen dumps of what I am trying to achieve:

  1. A ordinary render with a white background appearing in the archway. a image needs to fit in that, and I have an alpha mask for that, rendered by the program as a separate canvas.
  2. The alpha mask image (a 32-bit .EXR file)
  3. The depth map that I can use to create a depth-of-field (also a 32-bit .EXR file
  4. The image I want to appear in the archway (the white part), but the workflow of pulling in the alpha mask and using it as a "ready-made mask/selection" is completely different in Affinity Photo. It was somewhat achievable in CS6.

In Corel PhotoPaint it is very, very easy to do. (I installed C P-P just for this demonstration)

  1. Load the main image
  2. Use the "Load from Disk" menu item under Mask to load any grey-scale image as a mask/selection
  3. The mask selection appears which you can cut out using Ctrl-X
  4. Use the Import menu item under File to import the background image which can be scaled and placed in position. You just have to drag the background to the bottom of the stack on the right, like Affinity and Photoshop.

I see no point in installing either PhotoPaint or PhotoShop Just to do this one function...There has to be a better way of doing it in Affinity....

MainRender01.png

MainRender02.png

MainRender03.png

MainRender04.png

CP01.png

CP02.png

CP03.png

CP04.png

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