Overview:Masking is a powerful multifunctional task that can really take post-processing digital images to the next level. Photographers and designers can turn their post-processing workflow into a true form of art by breaking down their images piece-by-piece and then delicately crafting each element to achieve the optimal visual effect.

Masking allows users to have endless control over essentially every aspect of adjustment within their digital images - also referred to as selective adjustment. However, many are unaware of the full potential that a solid understanding of the uses of masking combined with an efficient masking workflow can of-fer.

Masking, also referred to as extraction or cutouts, opens the door for a variety of selective tasks such as: color correction, color change, contrast adjustments, detail enhancement, repositioning of elements, print layout, resizing, background removal, image blending, Bokeh effect and much more. Furthermore, the use of masking and extraction is not just for the changing of elements, it is also used to protect elements from change.

Topaz ReMask 2 makes this process of selective adjustment quick, easy and accurate. Essentially, ReMask 2 works like a pair of scis-sors that allows you to quickly define the edge of an element that needs to be cutout.

This tutorial is designed for those with a limited knowledge of the uses of masking or the process of masking, but have a vast desire to learn in order to have selective control over their images. We will explore the basic concept of masking and extraction and how to incorporate masking into the post-processing workflow.

This article will explore the use of masking, layer masks, and 6 basic yet important instances of masking and extraction in post processing for the purpose of selective adjustment. These include:

1. Color adjustments

2. Sharpening key features

3. Selective blurring (Bokeh)

4. Black & White with a splash of color

5. Adding in new backgrounds

6. Photo collage

Selective Adjustments with ReMask 2

Use of Masking and Layer Masks

Before we move forward with how to use ReMask 2 to make selective adjustments, lets take a step back-ward to gain a better understanding of the use of masking.

The use of masking and extraction allows you to perform three basic tasks:1. Isolate an element to add additional changes or enhancements to it2. Isolate an element to protect it from other changes or enhancements being made 3. Take an element and create a transparency around it in order to blend it with another image or add it to a layout.

These three tasks open the door to a variety of creative effects or corrective enhancements that can then be made.

The significance of using layer masks when masking is that they allow you to dictate the surrounding appearance of a masked element without actually altering (cutting) the image itself. Additionally, layer masks can be changed or removed without disrupting the image. Applying ReMask 2 directly on a layer will cut out the selected image element and discard all of the other image details. This is destructive masking, which means that once that image detail is gone you cannot get it back.

Masking with Topaz ReMask 2

The task of masking is generally complicated and tedious. It usually takes significant time and a variety of techniques to successfully mask. Great Photoshop masking requires the knowledge and use color channels, overlays, saturation techniques, blend modes and more. However, the use of masking soft-ware, such as Topaz ReMask 2, helps to make this process faster and less complex. ReMask 2 simplifies the masking process, reduces masking times and produces professional results.

There are two ways that you can set up your image for masking. The first is to create a duplicate layer of your image before you invoke ReMask 2. This way you can always revert back to your original if neces-sary.

The second, and most widely used is to first create a layer mask and then invoke ReMask 2. This will al-low all of your changes to be made to the mask and not the image itself. Layer masks create the impres-sion of transparency without actually having to remove that image detail. That way you can go back and change or remove the layer mask at a later time.

Understanding Tri-mapsTopaz ReMask 2 uses the tri-map technique to create your mask. A tri-map, made up of three colors: red, blue and green, is basically a blue-print of what your finished mask will look like. The purpose of the tri-map is to sample the colors within your image. When you compute your red, blue and green selec-tions, Topaz ReMask 2 will analyze the colors in each of the three color tone selections and create your mask. ReMask 2 uses the sampled color information from your green (keep) and red (remove) selections to figure out what should be masked in the blue selection.

Color adjustments allow you to change the color, hue, saturation, brightness, contrast or exposure of an element in your digital image. The adjustment of color can be used for color correction, color enhance-ment or even to create a color effect that pops.

Section 1: Color Adjustments

Step 1. Create a duplicate layer of your image and name it. Then add a layer mask to it.

Step 3. Complete your tri-map by making a selection around the flower with the blue brush, then fill the outside of the blue outline with red using the red fill tool.

Step 4. Select draft-quality (or high-quality for larger images) to process the tri-map.

Step 5. Refine the mask using the Magic Brush tool. Select the red brush (to remove detail) or the (green brush to restore detail), and then make short brush strokes in the area needing refinement. Switching between the 5 views (using the shortcut keys 1-5) helps speed up this process and ensures optimal results.

Step 7. You will notice that your mask has been saved back to your layer mask. You can view the masked “Flower” layer by hid-ing the layer” underneath it. This will show you just the flower on a transparent background.

Step 8. Make sure the “Flower” layer is selected then go to Image ->Adjustments -> Hue / Saturation and adjust the Hue, Saturation and Lightness sliders until satisfied. Then select OK.

Step 6. Use the mask hardness slider to make any additional refinements. Click OK to save the your mask back to Photoshop.

Step 2. Open ReMask 2 (make sure the layer mask thumbnail is selected). Your image will open filled with green so you we will just need to add the red and blue selections.

Sharpening allows you to define elements in your image by increasing the quality of the element. Sharp-ening will increase the clarity of an element within your image.

Section 2: Sharpening Key Features

Step 1. Create a duplicate layer of your image and name it. Then add a layer mask to it and open Re-Mask 2 (make sure the layer mask thumbnail is selected). Your image will open filled with green so you we will just need to add the red and blue selections.

Step 2. Complete your tri-map by making a selection around the birds with the blue brush, then fill the outside of the blue outline with red using the red fill tool.

Step 3. Select draft-quality (or high-quality for larger images) to process the tri-map.

Step 4. Refine the mask using the Magic Brush tool. Select the red brush (to remove detail) or the (green brush to restore detail), and then make short brush strokes in the area needing refinement. Switching between the 5 views (using the shortcut keys 1-5) helps speed up this process and ensures optimal results.

Step 6. You will notice that your mask has been saved back to your layer mask. You can view the masked “background” layer by hiding the layer underneath it. This will show you just the birds on a transparent background.

Step 7. Make sure the “Birds” layer is selected then go to Filter -> Sharpen in Photoshop and make your desired selections, or if you have Topaz Detail go to Filter -> Topaz Labs -> Detail and use the presets or manually adjust the sliders to make your desired selec-tions.Then select OK.

Step 5. Use the mask hardness slider to make any additional refinements. Click OK to save the your mask back to Photoshop.

Step 8. Add in your new back-ground by going to File -> Place and select your desired image. Then go to your layers palette and put the new image behind your masked image.

Blurring allows you to create new focal points or divert more attention to a specified element within your image by reducing detail visibility in the non-essential part of the image. This effect, also known as Bokeh, is great for emphasizing specific features within your images.

Section 3: Selective Blurring (Bokeh)

Step 1. Create a duplicate layer of your image and name it. Then add a layer mask to it and open Re-Mask 2 (make sure the layer mask thumbnail is selected). Your image will open filled with green so you we will just need to add the red and blue selections.

Step 2. Complete your tri-map by making a selection around the couple with the blue brush, then fill the outside of the blue outline with green using the green fill tool and the inside of the blue outline with red using the red fill tool.

Step 3. Select draft-quality (or high-quality for larger images) to process the tri-map.

Step 4. Refine the mask using the Magic Brush tool. Select the red brush (to remove detail) or the (green brush to restore detail), and then make short brush strokes in the area needing refinement. Switching between the 5 views (using the shortcut keys 1-5) helps speed up this process and ensures optimal results.

Step 6. You will notice that your mask has been saved back to your layer mask. You can view the masked “background” layer by hiding the layer underneath it. This will show you just the building from the background on a trans-parent background.

Step 7. Make sure the “Back-ground” layer is selected then go to Filter -> Blur -> Gaussian Blur and adjust the blurriness until satisfied. Then select OK.

Step 5. Use the mask hardness slider to make any additional refinements. Click OK to save the your mask back to Photoshop.

Desaturating an image then reintroducing a specific color element is a great effect that can really make your digital images pop. The splash of color in that black and white setting gives your image a great focal point and brings additional character to the scene.

Section 4: Black & White with a Splash of Color

Step 1. Create a duplicate layer of your image and name it “color”. Then add a layer mask to the “Color” layer and open ReMask 2 (make sure the layer mask thumb-nail is selected). Your image will open filled with green so you we will just need to add the red and blue selections.

Step 2. Complete your tri-map by making a selection around the flowers with the blue brush, then fill the outside of the blue outline with red using the red fill tool.

Step 3. Select draft-quality (or high-quality for larger images) to process the tri-map.

Step 4. Refine the mask. Use the Magic Brush tool by, selecting the red brush (to remove detail) or the (green brush to restore detail), and then make short brush strokes in the area needing refinement. Switching between the 5 views (using the shortcut keys 1-5) helps speed up this process and ensures optimal results.

Step 6. You will notice that your mask has been saved back to your layer mask. You can view the masked “Color” flowers layer by hiding the layer underneath it. This will show you just the flowers on a transparent background.

Step 7. Desaturate the background image. To do this, select the bot-tom background layer and make sure that it is visible. Then use Photoshop or Topaz Detail to convert it to Black & White. For Topaz Detail, go to Filter -> Topaz Labs -> Detail. In the presets panel on the left side of the interface, locate the BW Contrasted preset and select it. Your image will im-mediately be transformed into a crisp Black & White image. Using the Brightness and Contrast slid-ers in the Tone tab to perfect the look. For Photoshop’s conversion tool go to Image -> Adjustments -> Black & White. . . Select one of the included presets or manually adjust the sliders until satisfied.

Step 5. Use the mask hardness slider to make any additional refinements. Click OK to save the your mask back to Photoshop.

Introducing a new background into your image is a common practice. A new background can com-pletely change the scene and essence of an image. New backgrounds can also be used as a corrective technique when there are undesired elements behind your image subject or when you want to just want to add a creative effect to your image.

Section 5: Adding in New Backgrounds

Step 1. Create a duplicate layer of your image and name it. Then add a layer mask to it and open Re-Mask 2 (make sure the layer mask thumbnail is selected). Your image will open filled with green so you we will just need to add the red and blue selections.

Step 2. Complete your tri-map by making a selection around the football players with the blue brush, then fill the outside of the blue outline with red using the red fill tool.

Step 3. Select draft-quality (or high-quality for larger images) to process the tri-map.

Step 4. Refine the mask using the Magic Brush tool. Select the red brush (to remove detail) or the (green brush to restore detail), and then make short brush strokes in the area needing refinement. Switching between the 5 views (using the shortcut keys 1-5) helps speed up this process and ensures optimal results.

Step 6. You will notice that your mask has been saved back to your layer mask. You can view the masked “Football Players” layer by hiding the layer underneath it. This will show you just the football players on a transparent back-ground.

Step 7. Add in your new back-ground by going to File -> Place and select your desired image. Then go to your layers palette and put the new image behind your masked image.

Step 5. Use the mask hardness slider to make any additional refinements. Click OK to save the your mask back to Photoshop.

Using your new masking and selective adjustment techniques combined with multiple images is a great way to create a unique photo collage. Blending a series of images together allows you to visually high-light a special event, develop dynamic layouts for print and web or add creative fun to your images.

Section 6: Photo Collage

Step 1. Create a duplicate layer of your bride image and name it. Then add a layer mask to it and open ReMask 2 (make sure the layer mask thumbnail is selected). Your image will open filled with Green so you we will just need to add the red and blue selections.

Step 2. Complete your tri-map by making a selection around the bride with the blue brush, then fill the outside of the blue outline with red using the red fill tool.

Step 3. Select draft-quality (or high-quality for larger images) to process the tri-map.

Step 4. Refine the mask using the Magic Brush tool. Select the red brush (to remove detail) or the (green brush to restore detail), and then make short brush strokes in the area needing refinement. Switching between the 5 views (using the shortcut keys 1-5) helps speed up this process and ensures optimal results.

Step 6. You will notice that your mask has been saved back to your layer mask. You can view the masked “Bride” layer by hiding the layer underneath it. This will show you just the bride on a transparent background.

Step 7. Add in the pond and flower images by going to File -> Place and select your desired images. Then go to your layers palette and arrange the new image layers behind the masked “Bride” layer. You can use the move tool to position them or Edit -> Transform to resize the iamges.

Step 5. Use the mask hardness slider to make any additional refinements. Click OK to save the your mask back to Photoshop.

Step 8. Add a Layer Mask to the “Pond” layer. We are going to add a gradient to this layer to create a transition from it to the “Flower” layer.

Step 9. Select the Photoshop Gradient tool (it shares the same space with the Bucket tool) and set the foreground color to black and the background color to white using the swatches palette.

Step 10. Draw a small line hori-zontally from the edge of the flower image towards the grass in the pond image. Repeat as neces-sary to blend.