This tutorial will show you a couple of ways you can apply a mask. We are using the lovely mask you see in the header tag which was created by Helen, one of our Members. You may visit her website Blakes Pages as she has many goodies to offer you.

Preparations:

1. You may want to print this out to use as a reference. Go to the very top of this page, click File, then Print. Follow the instructions for your printer.

2. Open your PSP.

3. Go to the bottom of your Windows desktop. Look at your taskbar which is located to the right of your Start button. It lists all the windows folders and programs you have open. Look for an empty spot. Right Click and hold mouse down on that blank space.

4. A menu pops up. Select "Tile Windows Vertically". You should now have the tutorial and your own PSP open side by side. This will aid you in following the tutorial.

5. You may download the mask used in this tutorial HERE:


Mask From Image:

Please Note: Whenever you use a mask, The portion of it that is White is what will be shown on your finished image. If you look at this particular mask you will see by using it as is the design will be cut away and the white surrounding area is what you'll end up with. In the following instructions you will notice you're told to "Invert" the mask. What that will do is change the black area to white and white area to black therefore leaving the pattern section showing on your image.

• 1. Open the mask in your PSP program and minimize it.
  
  
• 2. Create a transparent square image - I used 600 x 600 for the header tag. Flood fill with white.
  
  
• 3. Add a new layer and fill with color of choice
  
  
  
• 4. Go to Layers/New Mask Layer/From Image
  
  
  Using drop down arrow select blakemask7. Check the Invert box and click OK.
  
  
  Your image and layer palette should now look like this:
  
  
  
• 5. Go to Layers/Delete. Depending on which version of psp you have you may get a pop up box asking if you would like to merge into layer below. Click Yes:
     
  
  
• 6. Back to Layers/Merge/Merge Group
  
  
  
• 7. Your image and layer palette should now look like this:
  
  
  
• 8. You may add a slight drop shadow if you like and it is finished and ready for you to continue creating your tag with tube, effects, font. Now wasn't that easy!
  
  

Mask From Disk:

• 1. Using this method you do not open your mask in PSP. Create another transparent image just as you did in #2 & 3 above. Be sure to fill with white then add new layer and fill with color of choice.
  
  
• 2. Go to Layers/Load Save Mask/Load Mask From Disk
  
  
  
• 3. A box opens like this. Note the one that says "Show All" - you need that selected to use the arrow box to search for your mask.
  
  
  
• 4. Click that down arrow and it will open a search area. Mine goes to where I have my masks saved. Locate the mask and highlight it.
  
  
  
• 5. Now look at the preview box on right side. Is the pattern white? If not check that Invert box under Options. Also check the box "Fit to Canvas" at the top. When all looks good click "Load":
  
  
  
• 5.Once again your image and layer palette should now look like this:
  
  
  
• 6. Go to Layers/Delete. Depending on which version of psp you have you may get a pop up box asking if you would like to merge into layer below. Click Yes:
     
  
  
• 7. Back to Layers/Merge/Merge Group
  
  
  
• 8. Your image and layer palette should now look like this:
  
  
  
• 9. You may add a slight drop shadow if you like and it is finished and ready for you to continue creating your tag with tube, effects, font.
  
  

Now you know how to apply masks using either the From Image or Load From Disk. Hope you have fun creating some beautiful tags and be sure to share them with the group!

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Tutorials Index

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This tutorial was written by Cathie for PSP Times Three.
Any similarities to other tutorials is merely a coincidence.
©   PSP Times Three
~March 2009~