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RJM
Joined: 03 Sep 2010
Posts: 2
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 Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 11:46 pm Post subject: Smart Object as Layer Mask? |
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Has anyone ever thought of a way to make a grayscale smart object a masking object? You can't apply adjustments to masks without being destructive and so I'd rather use a clipping mask layer, but instead of transparent pixels, I want a grayscale image like a layer mask channel. I want to have multiple instances of this layer mask, but with curve adjustments applied to each layer mask individually.
Is this possible? |
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Auieos
Joined: 29 Jan 2010
Posts: 2019
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| Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2010 7:11 pm Post subject: |
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Not sure about keeping a smart object in the mask channel.
What you could do is rasterize and greyscale your smart object, then paste it into the appropriate mask channel, mask is now an image. Apply the mask to the layer to make it permanent, and again add a mask to this altered layer. Therefor your now masking a non destructible layer. |
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Damo77
Joined: 28 Aug 2010
Posts: 114
Location: Brisbane, Australia
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| Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2010 7:26 pm Post subject: |
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I'm not aware that you can use a smart object as a mask. But honestly, I'm not sure why you need to. I use grayscale versions of images as masks all the time, and manipulate them with curves, but I've never found it necessary to add "smart" functionality to this process.
_________________
http://www.damiensymonds.com.au/
http://damiensymonds.blogspot.com/ |
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RJM
Joined: 03 Sep 2010
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2010 11:25 pm Post subject: |
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I figured out a workaround that works pretty well. First, let me explain what I'm doing.
The reason I would like to do this is I'm making essentially duotone-separated images with opaque inks for screenprinting. I can easily have 10 colors and duotone doesn't support more than 4, nor does it support opaque inks.
So I work in multichannel color. Flames, for instance would go from red, to orange, to yellow, to white, all based on the grayscale values from a single 16-bit grayscale. By adjusting the single grayscale, with a gradient map to match my colors, I can paint the full spectrum using only shades of gray.
Now when I incorporate a different set of colors, say a blue gradient, I need them to incorporate together without applying gradient maps to maps below it so they need to have masks applied.
I found out, after over a decade of working with PS, that you can use the "blend if" layer features to use a grayscale as an opacity mask by holding the alt key and dragging the sliders. I always thought "blend if" was almost useless because the hard edges is gives. Who knew?! |
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Damo77
Joined: 28 Aug 2010
Posts: 114
Location: Brisbane, Australia
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| Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2010 11:30 pm Post subject: |
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