PainShop Pro 9

Author

masks

Debbie Graham

2006-04-11, 3:54 am

How do you convert .jpg masks into the psp format .msk?
Debbie

Angela M. Cable

2006-04-11, 3:54 am

Debbie Graham wrote:

> How do you convert .jpg masks into the psp format .msk?
> Debbie

Layers-> New Mask Layer-> From Image. Check Source Luminance, hit OK.
Layers-> Load/Save Mask-> Save Mask to Disk.

--
Angela M. Cable
Paint Shop Pro 8, 9, X Private Beta Tester
Neocognition, digital scrapbooking source:
http://www.neocognition.com/

PSP Tutorial Links:
http://www.psplinks.com/

5th Street Studio, free graphics, websets and more:
http://www.fortunecity.com/westwood/alaia/354/

Trev

2006-04-11, 7:18 am

"Angela M. Cable" <cable@sweetwaterhsa.com> wrote in message
news:443b2fda$1_3@cnews...
>
> Debbie Graham wrote:
>
>
> Layers-> New Mask Layer-> From Image. Check Source Luminance, hit OK.
> Layers-> Load/Save Mask-> Save Mask to Disk.
>
Yes but why as Psp 8 onwards can load a Jpeg and most other formats as a
mask presumably as long as its greyscale

Spandex Rutabaga

2006-04-11, 7:11 pm

Debbie Graham wrote:
>
> How do you convert .jpg masks into the psp format .msk?

Before we go any further, you should be aware of some things. You
only need .msk files for PSP 7 and earlier. Is this why you want to
do the conversion? PSP 8 onwards will allow you to use *any* image
format supported by PSP to make a mask. If the image is in color its
greyscale values will be used to make the mask. I believe that in
PSP 7 and earlier versions .msk files are actually BMP files. So, to
convert do this:

1. Open the image you want to use as a mask using File > Open.
2. Do Image > Greyscale if this menu item is not greyed out.
3. Do File > Save As using the BMP format.
4. Using Windows Explorer rename the file you saved to change the
.bmp extension to the .msk extension.

This works just fine for me when I tested it.

Debbie Graham

2006-04-11, 11:11 pm

Thanks Angela, I also found it doing a search.

Deb

"Trev" <trevbowdenATdsl.pipev.COM@cnews1.corel.dmz> wrote in message
news:443b8fb0$1_2@cnews...
>
>
> "Angela M. Cable" <cable@sweetwaterhsa.com> wrote in message
> news:443b2fda$1_3@cnews...
> Yes but why as Psp 8 onwards can load a Jpeg and most other formats as a
> mask presumably as long as its greyscale
>
>

Debbie Graham

2006-04-11, 11:11 pm

Spandex, I have psp 7 and 9 but wanted the masks in my psp 7 folder. Your
saying if I was to use it in 9 I wouldn't have to have the .msk extension?

Debbie

"Spandex Rutabaga" <SpRu@agabatur.xednaps> wrote in message
news:443C10E0.B2061AD4@agabatur.xednaps...
>
> Debbie Graham wrote:
>
> Before we go any further, you should be aware of some things. You
> only need .msk files for PSP 7 and earlier. Is this why you want to
> do the conversion? PSP 8 onwards will allow you to use *any* image
> format supported by PSP to make a mask. If the image is in color its
> greyscale values will be used to make the mask. I believe that in
> PSP 7 and earlier versions .msk files are actually BMP files. So, to
> convert do this:
>
> 1. Open the image you want to use as a mask using File > Open.
> 2. Do Image > Greyscale if this menu item is not greyed out.
> 3. Do File > Save As using the BMP format.
> 4. Using Windows Explorer rename the file you saved to change the
> .bmp extension to the .msk extension.
>
> This works just fine for me when I tested it.
>

Spandex Rutabaga

2006-04-11, 11:11 pm

Debbie Graham wrote:
>
> Spandex, I have psp 7 and 9 but wanted the masks in my psp 7 folder. Your
> saying if I was to use it in 9 I wouldn't have to have the .msk extension?

Oh dear, oh dear. First, stop thinking that the extension defines
what is in a file. Changing .htm into .doc won't make something a
Word document; it will still be a web page. It's the internal format
of the file that counts. Second, let's sort out a few things about
PSP 7 and PSP 9, taking the latter first.

If you save a mask from PSP 9 using Layers > Load/Save Mask > Save
Mask To Disk the resulting file will have the extension .PspMask.
You can open this file as a mask using File > Load/Save Mask > Load
Mask From Disk. You can also open *any other image file* in a format
supported by PSP 9 using this same menu command. So, PSP 9 can use
a mask in pretty much any format. Also, you can add any folder of
images to the search path for masks using File > Preferences > File
Locations > Masks. In other words there are no format restrictions
for PSP 9 masks (actually PSP 8 onwards).

This is not true for PSP 7. Instead it only uses mask files which
(1) internally have the BMP format and also (2) have the .msk
extension in the file name. These files are expected to reside in
the Masks subfolder of where you have PSP 7 installed. You have no
other direct method for loading mask files. However, in PSP 7 you
can also make masks indirectly with these steps:

1. File > Open and open the mask image in whatever format. (This
image could have been saved from PSP 9 in any format that PSP 7
understands.)
2. Masks > New > From Image > Source Luminance (Invert Mask Data
not checked).
3. Masks > Save To Alpha Channel using any name.
4. File > Open and open the image to which you want to apply a mask.
5. With the newly opened image active do Masks > Load From Alpha
Channel. In the dialog that appears make sure Available Documents
shows the name of the image opened in step 1. Pick the alpha
channel and press OK. Shazzam - you have a mask in your PSP 7
image without ever having explicitly saved any mask image. At this
point you can close without saving the file you opened in step 1.

In PSP 9 you can do the same thing though the steps are slightly
different because of changed menu locations:

1. File > Open and open the mask image in whatever format.
2. Layers > New Mask Layer > From Image > Source Luminance (Invert
Mask Data not checked).
3. Layers > Load/Save Mask > Save To Alpha Channel using any name.
4. File > Open and open the image to which you want to apply a mask.
5. With the newly opened image active do Layers > Load/Save Mask >
Load From Alpha Channel.

Excuse my being long winded but it seems you aren't aware of these
options. Instead you want to save every mask in BMP format and give
it the extension .msk so you can use it in PSP 7 even though this
isn't necessary. Owing to some stupidity in PSP 9 it doesn't seem to
know how to use the old .msk or .sel extensions for *saving* even
though you can convince it to use the old .psp or .tub extension by
making appropriate settings under File > Preferences > File Format
Associations > Extensions. Nevertheless I think PSP 9 will still
open .msk files if you put the PSP 7 Masks folder in the search path
for masks used by PSP 9 (using the File Locations preference setting).
On the other hand to use images created in PSP 9 as masks in PSP 7
you don't need to save them as .msk files at all. You just use the
indirect steps I gave.

Debbie Graham

2006-04-12, 4:07 am

Spandex thanks I'll have to print this out. I'm more comfortable with 7 so
that is why I want everything saved in there. PSP 9 is way different and
there is a lot of things I'm not aware of. Even in 7 I'm not aware how to
use different things, I take it one step at a time as I need it, whatever
project I feel like trying.

Debbie

"Spandex Rutabaga" <SpRu@agabatur.xednaps> wrote in message
news:443C6227.73DCA7CF@agabatur.xednaps...
>
> Debbie Graham wrote:
>
> Oh dear, oh dear. First, stop thinking that the extension defines
> what is in a file. Changing .htm into .doc won't make something a
> Word document; it will still be a web page. It's the internal format
> of the file that counts. Second, let's sort out a few things about
> PSP 7 and PSP 9, taking the latter first.
>
> If you save a mask from PSP 9 using Layers > Load/Save Mask > Save
> Mask To Disk the resulting file will have the extension .PspMask.
> You can open this file as a mask using File > Load/Save Mask > Load
> Mask From Disk. You can also open *any other image file* in a format
> supported by PSP 9 using this same menu command. So, PSP 9 can use
> a mask in pretty much any format. Also, you can add any folder of
> images to the search path for masks using File > Preferences > File
> Locations > Masks. In other words there are no format restrictions
> for PSP 9 masks (actually PSP 8 onwards).
>
> This is not true for PSP 7. Instead it only uses mask files which
> (1) internally have the BMP format and also (2) have the .msk
> extension in the file name. These files are expected to reside in
> the Masks subfolder of where you have PSP 7 installed. You have no
> other direct method for loading mask files. However, in PSP 7 you
> can also make masks indirectly with these steps:
>
> 1. File > Open and open the mask image in whatever format. (This
> image could have been saved from PSP 9 in any format that PSP 7
> understands.)
> 2. Masks > New > From Image > Source Luminance (Invert Mask Data
> not checked).
> 3. Masks > Save To Alpha Channel using any name.
> 4. File > Open and open the image to which you want to apply a mask.
> 5. With the newly opened image active do Masks > Load From Alpha
> Channel. In the dialog that appears make sure Available Documents
> shows the name of the image opened in step 1. Pick the alpha
> channel and press OK. Shazzam - you have a mask in your PSP 7
> image without ever having explicitly saved any mask image. At this
> point you can close without saving the file you opened in step 1.
>
> In PSP 9 you can do the same thing though the steps are slightly
> different because of changed menu locations:
>
> 1. File > Open and open the mask image in whatever format.
> 2. Layers > New Mask Layer > From Image > Source Luminance (Invert
> Mask Data not checked).
> 3. Layers > Load/Save Mask > Save To Alpha Channel using any name.
> 4. File > Open and open the image to which you want to apply a mask.
> 5. With the newly opened image active do Layers > Load/Save Mask >
> Load From Alpha Channel.
>
> Excuse my being long winded but it seems you aren't aware of these
> options. Instead you want to save every mask in BMP format and give
> it the extension .msk so you can use it in PSP 7 even though this
> isn't necessary. Owing to some stupidity in PSP 9 it doesn't seem to
> know how to use the old .msk or .sel extensions for *saving* even
> though you can convince it to use the old .psp or .tub extension by
> making appropriate settings under File > Preferences > File Format
> Associations > Extensions. Nevertheless I think PSP 9 will still
> open .msk files if you put the PSP 7 Masks folder in the search path
> for masks used by PSP 9 (using the File Locations preference setting).
> On the other hand to use images created in PSP 9 as masks in PSP 7
> you don't need to save them as .msk files at all. You just use the
> indirect steps I gave.
>

Spandex Rutabaga

2006-04-12, 4:07 am

Debbie Graham wrote:
>
> Spandex thanks I'll have to print this out. I'm more comfortable with 7 so
> that is why I want everything saved in there. PSP 9 is way different and
> there is a lot of things I'm not aware of. Even in 7 I'm not aware how to
> use different things, I take it one step at a time as I need it, whatever
> project I feel like trying.

I understand where you are coming from. Quite a few people found
PSP 8 onwards quite a change from PSP 7. However, I'd encourage you
to persevere with PSP 9. It has lots of cool new functionality
compared to PSP 7 - really lots - not like PSP X compared to PSP 9.
It can be useful for a variety of purposes, whether you are the
arts and crafts type or are into photography. Many things are
much easier to do in PSP 9 compared to PSP 7 and PSP 9 allows you
to use scripts in your projects - those you record yourself or
ones you get from others. For instance take a look at what you can
do with VectorTube or VectorPaint here:
http://pixelnook.home.comcast.net/
If you're into masks of various kinds you may find the Deckle Edge
brush or the Brushy Frame script to be useful.

Debbie Graham

2006-04-12, 6:54 pm

Thanks I'll give that a try.

Debbie

"Spandex Rutabaga" <SpRu@agabatur.xednaps> wrote in message
news:443C9E3E.B34146A0@agabatur.xednaps...
>
> Debbie Graham wrote:
>
> I understand where you are coming from. Quite a few people found
> PSP 8 onwards quite a change from PSP 7. However, I'd encourage you
> to persevere with PSP 9. It has lots of cool new functionality
> compared to PSP 7 - really lots - not like PSP X compared to PSP 9.
> It can be useful for a variety of purposes, whether you are the
> arts and crafts type or are into photography. Many things are
> much easier to do in PSP 9 compared to PSP 7 and PSP 9 allows you
> to use scripts in your projects - those you record yourself or
> ones you get from others. For instance take a look at what you can
> do with VectorTube or VectorPaint here:
> http://pixelnook.home.comcast.net/
> If you're into masks of various kinds you may find the Deckle Edge
> brush or the Brushy Frame script to be useful.
>