using channels to create an alpha layer for mask

[tom60634]

I've recently purchased PhotoLine and have been adjusting to its differences from the editors of which I'm familiar.

So far it has been a matter of different terminology, for instance in Photoshop "Color Filter" is referred to as the "BlendIf" feature.
I'm starting to become more familiar with PhotoLine's terms and workflow.

However I'm having great difficulty in transferring a Photoshop technique to a PhotoLine workflow.
In Photoshop I am accustomed to duplicating a channel, then using curves to whiten the light part of the channel to white and darken the dark parts to black.
In the layers section I create a mask for the layer containing the edits that I'm working with.
I then use the Photoshop "Apply Image" function to fill the mask with the now black and white duplicated channel.
This has been, for me, a much more successful manner of creating a mask than using brushes or quick select tools. Keep in mind that I still use brushes and Photoshop's mask adjustments to tune my mask when necessary.
Is there a straight forward way to accomplish the same or similar technique in PhotoLine ?

I hope I've made my request clear and understandable. I'm looking forward to any and all responses as I'm sure they'll be helpful. Thank you for your considerations.

[Hoogo]

Funny coincidence, the same question appeared just yesterday in the German part of the forum. Maybe Google can help to make this readable, I can try a better translation later. Ashcraaft described his solution using PS, I posted the minor changes for a most equal way in PL, then started to describe a more "interesting" solution.

In general, replace a PS-channel with a PL-layer, use the "layer mask"-button at the bottom of the layer list to turn that into a layer mask.

[tom60634]

Hoogo:

Thank you for your quick reply,

In general, replace a PS-channel with a PL-layer, use the "layer mask"-button at the bottom of the layer list to turn that into a layer mask.

My main concern is to be able to accomplish the mask from channel technique without any assistance from Photoshop.
I'm trying to eliminate Photoshop as much as possible.

[Hoogo]

Yes, there's no problem in using the channel technique. I currently try to demonstrate some really nasty, non-destructive masking, after that I'll translate.

[bkh]

However I'm having great difficulty in transferring a Photoshop technique to a PhotoLine workflow.
In Photoshop I am accustomed to duplicating a channel, then using curves to whiten the light part of the channel to white and darken the dark parts to black.
In the layers section I create a mask for the layer containing the edits that I'm working with.
I then use the Photoshop "Apply Image" function to fill the mask with the now black and white duplicated channel.

In PL
• open the Layers/Channels panel, switch to the Channels tab, pick your channel and use the "Create Layer button" at the bottom of the panel. This creates an ordinary greyscale layer.
• adjust the greyscale layer (using Gradients)
• convert the greyscale layer to a layer mask by using "Create for previous" in the mask popup menu in the layer panel (also available in the main manu, Layer -> Layer mask)
Of course, you can edit this layer mask using the ordinary drawing tools.

If you need a mask to restrict editing to a certain part of the image,
• you can create a PL mask (similar to the quick mask in PS) from the layer mask by using "Apply to mask" in the mask menu of the layer panel, or the corresponding command from the main menu, in Layer -> Layer mask.

• alternatively, instead of creating a layer mask, create a PL mask using Tools -> Change Channels to copy the greyscale image to the mask, then make the greyscale invisible or delete it.

Cheers

Burkhard.

[tom60634]

Thanks for your quick replies.

Excuse my delay in responding, but my time is not my own. I take care of my 98 year old father's needs, which sometimes does not leave enough hours in the day.

I'm starting to understand the procedures a bit more, I have to adjust to the placement of the mask areas.
I'm so used to the placement of the mask next to the layer rather than above or below that it throws my conceptions out of whack (order).

Once again your time and efforts are well appreciated.