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Post by BuckSkin on Jul 27, 2016 6:25:41 GMT
Google/NIK
I am not fussing, as the price was right; however, I discovered a defect in the Color Efex panel.
In the lower-right corner are three buttons; "Brush", "Cancel", and "Okay".
Mousing over the brush button says something to the effect of "brush in the effect"; this seems like it would be a quite handy feature.
Alas..........., when I click the brush button, it does the same as clicking the "Okay" button = saves my work on a new layer and closes the dialogue.
At first, I thought I must have clicked the Okay button by mistake; so, I tried again and same result.
I thought it may be an issue with me using the UGEE tablet/pen instead of the mouse; so, I switched to the mouse and tried it with same results.
Has anyone else noticed this same issue, or am I The Lone Ranger ?
Thanks for reading.
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Post by Sydney on Jul 27, 2016 10:05:05 GMT
I just tried this and got the expected result with both the 'ok' button and with the 'brush' button. After clicking the ok button a new layer was created with my effect from Color Efex. When the brush button was clicked, again a new layer was created with my effect from Color Efex, but in this instance with the addition of a black layer mask which concealed the effect and showed the layer below it. I was then able to paint in white to reveal the effect.
If when clicking the brush button you aren't getting the black layer mask when control returns to PSE, you can simply highlight your layer with the effect from Color Efex and click on the add layer mask button and then fill it with black. It will be exactly the same result as what clicking the brush button should have given you.
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Post by Lillias on Jul 27, 2016 12:52:55 GMT
Thanks for raising this subject Buckskin and thanks too to Sydney for the explanation given.
I gave it a try and it works as you say. I would never have found this out for myself and it could prove a very useful tool for various effects.
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Post by hmca on Jul 27, 2016 13:20:31 GMT
For all the years that I have been using this plug-in, I never knew about the brush feature! Thanks Buckskin and Sydney!
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Post by Sepiana on Jul 27, 2016 14:47:16 GMT
I am not fussing, as the price was right; however, I discovered a defect in the Color Efex panel. In the lower-right corner are three buttons; "Brush", "Cancel", and "Okay". Mousing over the brush button says something to the effect of "brush in the effect"; this seems like it would be a quite handy feature. Alas..........., when I click the brush button, it does the same as clicking the "Okay" button = saves my work on a new layer and closes the dialogue. BuckSkin,
I believe this is not a defect in the Color Efex panel. These two buttons are not the same; each serves a different purpose. If you hover your cursor over the buttons, you will see this . . .
Brush - Click to apply the filter selectively to the image. OK - Click to apply the filter.
As Sydney pointed out, the Brush option means adding a mask.
You may want to check this. -- Using the Brush Tool in Color Efex Pro 4
If you click on the Help button under the left panel, you will access Google Help Center where you will find more detailed information on how to use this collection.
support.google.com/nikcollection/#topic=2991630
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Post by PeteB on Jul 27, 2016 16:33:58 GMT
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Post by BuckSkin on Jul 27, 2016 18:04:14 GMT
Thanks, everyone, for explaining and for the links to more information.
When I click "brush", I only get the image layer with no mask; do I even have layer mask capabilities in E7 ?
I know that I have masks in my adjustment layers.
I do have Elements+ ; maybe I can go that route ?
Thanks so much.
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Post by Sepiana on Jul 27, 2016 20:26:58 GMT
When I click "brush", I only get the image layer with no mask; do I even have layer mask capabilities in E7 ? I do have Elements+ ; maybe I can go that route ?
Elements 7 does not have a built-in layer mask. This feature was introduced in Elements 9.
Yes, you can use Elements+.
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Post by BuckSkin on Jul 27, 2016 22:54:54 GMT
When I click "brush", I only get the image layer with no mask; do I even have layer mask capabilities in E7 ? I do have Elements+ ; maybe I can go that route ?
Elements 7 does not have a built-in layer mask. This feature was introduced in Elements 9.
Yes, you can use Elements+.
Hence is probably why the description says for E9-E13; I will probably stumble into another situation or two that will require a work-a-round. I appreciate everyone's help and patience with my numerous questions. |
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Post by Tpgettys on Jul 28, 2016 0:30:10 GMT
BuckSkin , here is a workaround for simulating a layer mask in your version of Elements. You will then be able to paint in the effect using a brush. In looking at the video PeteB shared I learned about the control points available (NIK is such an impressive package!); you will not be able to take advantage of those. Upgrading to the new version of PSE would give you access to *many* wonderful advances in both PSE and the full features of NIK.
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Post by BuckSkin on Jul 28, 2016 1:01:35 GMT
BuckSkin , here is a workaround for simulating a layer mask in your version of Elements. You will then be able to paint in the effect using a brush. In looking at the video PeteB shared I learned about the control points available (NIK is such an impressive package!); you will not be able to take advantage of those. Upgrading to the new version of PSE would give you access to *many* wonderful advances in both PSE and the full features of NIK. Thanks; I had not as yet seen that trick. Once this discussion got underway, I played with the layer-mask via Elements+ and it is a cool feature; my only minor annoyance with E+ is the round-a-bout way of getting there. I will experiment with that workaround you pointed to and see which I like best. Has anyone tried this, also in that link ? :  As for the Nik control points, unless I am badly confused, I believe those are working for me; maybe possibly not exactly as they should, but they seem to be. Thanks. |
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Post by Sepiana on Jul 28, 2016 1:52:41 GMT
Once this discussion got underway, I played with the layer-mask via Elements+ and it is a cool feature; my only minor annoyance with E+ is the round-a-bout way of getting there. I will experiment with that workaround you pointed to and see which I like best. Has anyone tried this, also in that link ? : As for the Nik control points, unless I am badly confused, I believe those are working for me; maybe possibly not exactly as they should, but they seem to be.
BuckSkin,
First some clarification. You are not limited to using a Color Fill adjustment layer as specified in the workaround you are referring to. All you are doing is hijacking the mask of the adjustment layer. You can use any adjustment layer you want.
Source: Faking A Photoshop Layer Mask In Photoshop Elements
Also, you don't need the layer mask action provided with that tutorial. If I remember it correctly, you have Grant's Tools (which contain a layer mask action). Just follow the instructions below to install this action in Elements 7 and you are set to go. You don't need to install all the seven actions; just install the layer mask action.
www.photoshopelementsandmore.com/thread/1828/install-actions
As to the Nik control points -- I don't believe you need to upgrade your version of Elements to take full advantage of the full features of these plug-ins. I have had the Nik Collection since the days when you had to pay for it. I still have it installed in Elements 7. Except for the layer mask feature, everything works just fine. But, as shown above, this layer mask issue can be easily solved.
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Post by BuckSkin on Jul 28, 2016 3:13:47 GMT
Thanks again, Sepiana.
I don't have Grants Tools; however, I do have Elements+.
I did some reading on that "one click" layer mask tool and implementing it requires more than a single click, so I will stick with the resources that I already have.
An interesting note on that layer grouping mask business:
After reading those instructions, it all seemed familiar except different; and then, it dawned on me that I had been doing a very similar, but yet different, maneuver with an eye sharpening trick that I learned from one of my many books.
I will explain only the mask steps involved.
On your chosen layer hold CTRL and click the new layer icon; this puts a new transparent layer underneath the chosen layer; make that layer active again and type CTRL and G; this groups the new transparent layer with the chosen layer; now, painting on the transparent layer with BLACK reveals whatever detail of the chosen layer you wish; in this trick, BLACK reveals instead of WHITE --- interesting, is it not.
Thanks for reading.
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Post by Sepiana on Jul 28, 2016 3:34:10 GMT
BuckSkin,
You can download Grant's Tools from this thread. Scroll down to the fifth post.
photoshopelementsandmore.com/thread/1140/backed
Just follow the installation instructions I posted earlier. To add the mask to a layer, . . .
1. Activate the layer you want to add the mask to.
2. Click on the layer mask thumbnail in the Effects panel. The mask will attach itself to the layer.
If you have any further questions, just post back.
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Post by BuckSkin on Jul 28, 2016 6:14:15 GMT
Much appreciated, Sepiana, thanks.
You know I will always have more questions; I am like the kid that missed the first six weeks of school ... always catching up.
On EDIT: Man, you weren't kidding about the zip-file.
I thought that was a link to where I got the download and got four copies zipped to me before I knew what was happening.
Thanks again !
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