![]() ![]() ![]() In addition, photographers can selectively blend, or mask layers together using the Masking Brush and Masking Bug developed originally for PhotoTools and FocalPoint, other tools from OnOne Software catalogue. Once images are brought into Perfect Layers, they are merged as separate layers that the user can easily reorder and position besides changing blending modes and opacity. Use the built-in layer masks and masking tools to blend multiple layers together. Adjust layer size, position, blending mode and opacity. The program lets you combine multiple images into a layered Photoshop-compatible file. Use it to change skies, composite multiple images together and retouch portraits using the built-in blending modes. With Perfect Layers you can create and edit multi-layered Photoshop files directly within Lightroom or use it to combine images from within other applications such as Apple Aperture, iPhoto or Adobe Bridge. Perfect Layers 2 is the fast and easy way to create layered files in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. So it is possible to do layer masks for free with software available for download from the Internet. Not much different, in fact, from the result obtained from Photoshop. The final image in GIMP will look something like this. The results will always depend on how much time you take to edit the image. You can download the program GimpShop 2.8 from Gimp webpage. This tutorial will help you to start using layers and layer masks in GIMP. Read more about it after the GIMP tutorial. A fabulous one, as you can find out here. Still, I would advise you to get a full image editor and work with Perfect Layers 2 as an extension. ![]() And although it can be used together with Lightroom or Aperture, to let you integrate layers and layers mask in your workflow, it also works as a standalone program, meaning that you do not need to have other program to explore the possibilities of layer masks. ![]() My second choice is, again, free for all users. This latest version of GimpShop incorporates, the creators say, " support of 16 & 32-bit color, a highly intuitive user-interface, a huge array of filters & dynamic brushes and leading-edge advanced tools that power users and professionals demand in high-end, high-priced photo and image manipulation programs like Adobe Photoshop." The GNU Image Manipulation Program (or G.I.M.P) is an Open Source program designed, maintained and supported by a team of international volunteers. This latest build - GimpShop 2.8.0 - represents over 17 years of development and collaboration. Perfect Layers 2 from OnOne Software is a very easy-to-use tool to work with layer masks. It also has a huge support community and can be extended with numerous plugins that add functionality. This said, Gimp includes all the needed tools and features for professional image editing such as layers, filters, color correction, artistic effects. It is in fact a strange program to use for Photoshop users like me, even with the GimpShop version that tries to emulate the Photoshop interface. For this article I choose as the first example GIMP, which is usually presented as the most powerful free Photoshop alternative. On the free front there are options, too. And it costs about the same as Photoshop Elements, so there is choice. I am not familiar with Paint Shop Pro, although I used it as my preferred editor for years, back in the nineties (and I did pay for it, being shareware then), but it also has layer masks. Users of Adobe Photoshop Elements had long envied that and other options, and since that version they've had layers masks working exactly the same way as in Photoshop, for around 100 dollars. One of them is within the Adobe family, Photoshop Elements, that since version 9, launched in September 2010, has layer masks as an option, just like the big brother has. Programs like, which is free, offer you layers, and the next version 4, will have layers masks, something that is essential to do the kind of treatment shown in my article Double Expose for Better Landscapes.īut there are other options besides Photoshop. And I am very keen on free software that in many cases does cover the needs of a large percentage of users. I am not familiar with all the software around, but I do enjoy trying as much. Well, let me tell you the good news: this tutorial was created to show other ways to do exactly the same. Gimp is a free software that can be used to do a lot of things Photoshop does. ![]()
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