Making & Using A Mask
PSP7

Making The Mask

Step 1: Start with a "new" image - color black
I used 500 by 500

Step 2: Select your Text Tool Icon and click on your image to open the Text Box.
Set both your foreground and background colors to White.
Using the Wingdings Font....use the Capital R to make a Star Symbol
The text font number only goes up to 72, so I clicked on the text font number so that it was highlighted in blue..and then I typed in the font size that I wanted (for my 500 by 500 image, I typed in the number 500)

Step 3: Click OK on the text box window, and then when you see the star symbol on your new image, move it so that it is centered on your image.
The center of the star will be colored black, and the points of the star will be colored white.
You will have "marching ants" all around it, so de-select it.
This is what you should have so far:
Step 4: Click on your Magic Wand and then click on the center black circle..you will get those "marching ants" around it.

Go up to your top toolbar and click on "Selections"..then click on "Modify" and then "Expand"..putting the number 2 in the little box.

Flood Fill it with White.
Then de-select it.
This is what you have now:
Step 5: Go up to the top menu bar and click on Masks.
A drop down menu will appear, click on "New"..another drop down menu will appear, click on "From Image"
Step 6: A new Box Window will open showing you this:
Click "OK"

Step 7: A new image will appear showing you what your Mask will look like.
This is what it will look like:
Step 8: Go back up to your top menu bar and again click on Masks.
Your drop down menu will appear again, click on "Save To Disk"
This is what it will look like:
Step 9: A new screen will open up that looks like this:
Step 10: Name your Mask (I named my star.msk)
This is what it will look like:
Click on Save.

You have made a Mask........

Using The Mask

Either find a picture that you want to use...or you can use this one (right click on it with your mouse and click on the "save picture as")
Open it up so it's on your screen.

1) Go up to your top toolbar and click on "Mask" - "Load From Disk"


2. Find the Mask that you just made and click on it to highlight it. Then click on Open.

3. This is what you picture will look like

4. Then go up to your top toolbar and click on "Layers" - "Merge" - "Merge All (Flatten)"

5. This is what your picture will now look like.


You have made your Masked Picture!


Here's mine........





You can use this method to make a Mask with any kind of shapes.