By Colin Smith

Are you using native Photoshop files within QuarkXPress? If so, you may want to check out our PDF articles on PSD Import and QuarkVista.

In this article reprint, Colin Smith walks us through collaging techniques for Photoshop, using channels, and layers. This is a bit more in depth than some of his other tutorials; you will learn several techniques that you can adapt to add a pro touch to your montages and collages.

In this tutorial, you'll use:

• Photoshop Layers
• Photoshop Layer Masks
• Photoshop Gradients
• Photoshop Merging Images
• Photoshop Opacity

Difficulty rating: 7/10

Let's Begin

You know the drill by now, make a new document and drag and drop two images into the document. Create a new layer for the background and fill with white. (I know it's black on the pix, but I changed my mind later.)

Select the top layer (by clicking on its name in the layers palette)

Click the add layer mask icon in the layers palette to add a mask to the — in my example — hands layer.

Make sure the mask is selected. You can tell because the icon will show a square with a circle in it. (See illustration.)

Set black as your foreground color. Choose the brush tool and a large soft brush.

As you begin to paint, notice how the top image dissapears as you paint it out. On a layer mask, whatever is painted black is made invisible. Whatever is white is visible.

Once you have painted out all the parts you want hidden, you may notice some areas where you over painted. Don't worry.

Press the "X" key to switch the foreground and background colors. With white as the foreground, choose a smaller brush and paint back the areas you want to keep. Notice as you paint with white, the image comes back. Don't you love layer masks?!

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