I need help understanding Masks

[jiminyClickit]

dlaf,

I learned most from using others' photos (no attachment anxiety!) and experimenting with all the steps I had read about here. Mistakes are learning tools, if you aren't worrying about the loss of one of your own photos. Your concentration may be better too, not Critiquing yourself as you work on photo. Finesse comes with practice, and confidence. You're stepping in a good direction. You know you have lots of eyes and ears to help, too.

[dlaf]

transistor,
Your explanation of the application of masks has helped greatly. Since I'm only a beginning hobby photographer waiting in line at the smallest entry level, my experience doesn't take me to the building scenario. Now, part of me still thinks that layers would work fine for your task, however, after reading yours and other responses here, I realize that you COULD use layers, but there are more features in masks that would allow me to do the job better. This I can appreciate from years of working with computers. (thank you, jiminy, for the analogy!)

I will continue to haze my brain a bit by looking at mask explanations and applications so I can understand what they can do, but I'll also do what Franken suggested--get good with one method until I'm ready to move on. Then I'll have an idea of what I can move on to!

Many thanks!

[dlaf]

Originally Posted by jiminyClickit

dlaf,

I learned most from using others' photos (no attachment anxiety!) and experimenting with all the steps I had read about here. Mistakes are learning tools, if you aren't worrying about the loss of one of your own photos. Your concentration may be better too, not Critiquing yourself as you work on photo. Finesse comes with practice, and confidence. You're stepping in a good direction. You know you have lots of eyes and ears to help, too.

This is good advice! It makes so much sense. I found myself doing that for a few minutes with a photo in the minimalism assignment. After reading what you just wrote, I realize the difference was I was playing with a photo that I did not have a "vision" for. I could not get off track or pigeon hole myself into a certain "feel." My only intent was to play and learn. I feel like you just gave me a bunch of new toys to play with! Thank you!

[jiminyClickit]

dlaf,

Anytime. There's nothing better than self-discovery. Have fun with the toys!

[Chad Z.]

This website has tons of tutorials as far as post edit.
http://www.thelittlephotoshop.co.uk/
You may not use photoshop but it should at least help you get the idea of masks. The videos are very good quality. He has more on youtube than are on his site =)