Datasheet

18 chapter 1 Tools for Building Your Masterpiece
Shades of Gray
One final example demonstrates how shades of gray can be used in a mask to create charac-
ter in your collages or backgrounds (see Figure 1.40). In this instance, I’ve taken
tech-02.jpg
and
tech-03.jpg, and placed them in new layers in the file circuit.jpg. Grayed masks (or
layer masks lled with gray) have been applied to the top two layers.
When you look at the image with a mask applied,
you’ll see elements of both photos overlaying the original
(see Figure 1.41). Basically this is the same effect as if you
were reducing opacity or altering blending modes; how-
ever, you can use this effect in conjunction with opacity
changes and blending-mode changes for variations you
may not expect. I have said that before, I will say this
now, and I promise I will say it again: experiment! You’ll
never know the effects you could have created unless you
try subtly (or extremely, for that matter) altering settings
in your images dreamed up by you. I can show you only a
couple of variations in a few pages, but I really want you
to explore your own creativity by using the tools at your
disposal.
I will go deeper in detail concerning the new mask-
ing features as you proceed through the book. With such
a powerful tool, you will have incredible digital art in
short order.
Figure 1.41 This tech background will fit in with almost any trendy, modern website.
Figure 1.40 Using gray tones
in a mask is a fast and easy way
to create collages or to generate
backgrounds with elements from
multiple images.
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