Mask Tutorial (by Vered).

No mask expert, but here's my take on a tutorial.

1. Start with a base image:

2. Add a new layer:

3. Make sure the new layer is selected. Now go to the "layer" menu and choose "Add layer mask", and then "Reveal all". What this means is that the new mask you added is there, but currently the entire layer is viewable. What we will be doing is working on the mask to conceal certain areas of the image (make them... see-through *grin*). Anyway, after you added the layer mask, this is what you should see in the layer palette:

4. You'll also notice that after you did this, the colour palette turns into black and white:

5. Click on the brush tool and then go to the brush palette. Reset the palette so that you will have the original brushes that are loaded the first time you ever opened Photoshop. Check the image to find out how:

6. Now pick a soft round 100 pixel brush (it's not a must, but it works best). Here's what you should pick:

7. Now, make sure you have the right layer selected, and within the layer make sure the mask is selected, and not the image.

Then on the image itself, slowly start painting with the brush you just picked. What will happen is - you are painting with black on the mask, and as a result you are revealing the layer underneath as you slowly conceal parts of the layer you are working on. The image itself remains intact, but with the mask, you can hide parts of it:

8. Finish revealing all the sections you want. If you, by mistake, reveal too much, it's very easy to fix. Just switch the colour you are working with to white and paint again until what was concealed is revealed. White reveals the layer again, while black hides it. Finally you should be ready. Check your layer palette to see what your mask looks like now:

9. Now add whatever you want... additional images, more masked images... whatever...

This is basic masking for blending, but essential you can use any type of brush to hide/reveal items... Juts be imaginitive.