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COMPOSING IMAGES
3 Use the Transparency brushes to adjust the transparency of those parts of the layer
that you want to fade. As you brush on transparency, you can see your changes right
in the composition. Set brush size, change the opacity or softness of the effect
you’re adding. Adjust the flow of the transparency (or how much it builds up as you
continue to brush over an area.
To create a layer cutout:
1 Select a layer.
2 Reduce the overall transparency of the layer until you can see the rest of the
composition showing through (to help with positioning.)
3 Move the layer until the part you want to keep is positioned correctly. For example,
if your composition has a picture of aman and the layer you are placing on top is a
picture of a cat, you could position the top layer so that the cat’s head is on top of
the man’s body (obscuring the man’s head.)
4 Choose Layers menu > Hide/Show Transparency Brushes or click the brush icon at the
bottom of the Layers tray.
This temporarily restores the transparency of the layer you are placing and allows
you to brush on layer transparency.
5 Now, use the Transparency brushes (remember to use the eraser to fine-tune the area
where the transparency is applied) to make transparent everything but the part of
that layer that you want to keep (in the example—the cat’s head.)
Brush on Transparency.