Another way to Mask PhotoImpact 6.0

Do you have a compulsion to collect masks? Do you have too many to store them all in your easy palette? Here is a way to use any image as a mask without first storing it in your easy palette. And since you don't have to store the mask in your easy palette using this method, it may be easier for you to learn to use masks with this method. Also, some times you want to make a mask for one use only. Instead of going through all the steps to add it to your easy palette, and apply it, then going back to delete it afterward, just use this method instead.

	1. Open any image that you want to use for your mask. You may click on the thumbnail to the left to save this one that I created or you may use any downloaded mask. If you are not using a greyscale image, make sure to convert it to greyscale before proceeding with the rest of this tutorial. An easy way to check the format of your image is to look at your color palette. Gray tones mean you are looking at a gray scale image, Click the rainbow, in the lower right hand side of your screen and then greyscale (8 bit) to convert the mask to gray scale if needed. Do you have some downloaded masks with the mask extension? Pi can be set up to see the PSP *.msk extension. Click here to learn how to do it.
	2. Open the image you want to mask. You may use this one from the PI gallery if you like. Click the image to the left to open the full sized photo. 3. Apply any effects you wish to the image.  I have left this one as it is.
	4. With the photo active, click selection in the menu bar, then Import Selection. You will see a thumbnail of the mask you have open in the background.  **Note** You can also click the circle beside "file" to use any mask stored on your hard drive. However, if the mask is not greyscale, it will not work. You will have to open it and convert it in order to use it.  Click ok. You will now see an aqua dotted line on your image. This is your selection.
	5. Click the transform tool to check the edges of the selection. Many times, you will not be able to see the edges of the selection. But when you click the transform tool, the rectangular area the mask occupies will be apparent. Make sure that the edges extend to the border of your image on all four sides, and that it doesn't extend beyond the border. In other words, make the two the same size by dragging the selection using the handles of the transform tool.
	6. Right click and convert to object. Now press the space bar, and click edit/fill. Choose a background color or image. You are basically done, though you may want to continue and add more to your image. This method is extremely well suited to making greeting cards. Click here to see mine.

Additional notes:

You can save your own masks as greyscale images.  In Image optimizer there is an option to the left allowing you to click greyscale.  You need to do this even if you convert the mask to greyscale prior to entering the image optimizer it, because Image optimizer automatically saves new images as full color image unless you specify otherwise.  It may be a good idea to open all images you use as masks and convert them to greyscale, then resave them so that you don't need to open them before using them. Here's how to add extensions so that Pi can read them when you click the open button or when searching for materials to apply to a path object. Some Paint Shop Pro files can be opened if you set it up correctly. These include msk, tex, and pat files for version 5, and those plus psp files for version 6.

	1. Click file/preferences.  2. Click on the word associate.
	3. In the new tab, click customize.
	4. This will open a new window. Click the add button.
	5. Type the extension you wish to add to the list in the text box under Custom extension. (psp, tex, pat or msk) Click ok. You can add as many extensions as you wish while in the customize box.