[MacMan4000]

Is it possible to paste into a layer mask? every time I try to it puts it on a new layer, not the mask that I have selected. This is kinda hard to explain so I made an EXTREMELY ugly example.

Lets pretend I have this that I want to make into a title-bar for a theme. So I want to use this as the layer mask. So I try to paste the layer mask by clicking the layer mask icon at the bottom of the layers pallet then hitting paste. But instead of pasting into the mask its pastes it normally, on a new layer, by itself.

Any suggestions? am I missing something obvious, like I usually do?

[digitaljames]

I've been adding the second image on top of the first and go "load selection", highlight the first image layer, go "select inverse"/edit/clear and then delete the second layer.

[MacMan4000]

Nevermind. i figured it out.

Put the gradient on the top layer and the mask (with transparency, not white space) on the bottom layer. select the top, gradient, layer. click "layer>create clipping mask"

[deej5871]

Huh.. I had the same question and my solution was have Quick Mask mode selected in your tools window, then paste the image you want to be the mask, and that makes it a selection when you switch back to standard mode after that.

Edited for clarity.

[Lancer409]

Good Luck, hope it's a sweet theme you're working on =P

[smeger]

Here's more detail on the QuickMask solution. Note that the ThemePark tutorial that this is from is largely out of date, but the section I linked just happens to solve your problem.

[Dave Brasgalla]

Originally posted by MacMan4000:
Any suggestions? am I missing something obvious, like I usually do?

I remember that, around PS version 3 or 4, you could do this directly. Now it's still simple, but less obvious. Click on the Channels tab and you'll see the alpha channel for the mask directly below the RGB channels. You can select this channel and just hit "Paste".

Hope this helps...

[MacMan4000]

Originally posted by Lancer409:
Good Luck, hope it's a sweet theme you're working on =P

Yeah, I think it is! Avenger

Thanks to everyone for the extra info!

BTW Smeger, am I going to need to re-do anything for my theme when ShapeShifter 1.3 comes out? (please say "no") *crossing fingers*

[COBRAHQ]

I'll do this from a Mac perspective, so the keys may be different from the Windows version... I can't remember what I use on my Win machine at the moment.

Once you've created the blank mask, if you Option-Click the Mask box on your layer, it'll show you the B&W Mask work area. From there you can paste whatever you want into it.

Or you do that multiple layer way, but this way you know how to get back into the Mask when you need to make changes.

Hope that's helpful.

[smeger]

Originally posted by MacMan4000:
Yeah, I think it is! Avenger

Thanks to everyone for the extra info!

BTW Smeger, am I going to need to re-do anything for my theme when ShapeShifter 1.3 comes out? (please so "no") *crossing fingers*

I don't think so. I'm usually pretty good about providing a "zero upgrade needed" path.

[MacMan4000]

Originally posted by smeger:
I don't think so. I'm usually pretty good about providing a "zero upgrade needed" path.

Awesome! I'm looking forward to it a lot. keep up the good work!