ReMask

TOPAZREMASK

Understanding The Basics

ReMask

For more ReMask tutorials and resources please visit: http://www.topazlabs.com/tutorials/remask/

Overview

This tutorial will guide you through the basic steps of using Topaz ReMask. In order to successfully use

ReMask you will need to have a basic understanding of Photoshop. This guide will not teach you Pho-

toshop, but it will teach you how to create layer masks for your digital images.

Here is what you need to know to get started:

1. Topaz ReMask is only compatible with the full version of Photoshop. For Mac you can use CS3 or CS4

and for Windows you can use Photoshop 7 through CS4.

2. Topaz ReMask works directly in Photoshop and does not have a user interface.

3. Topaz ReMask comes with an Action Set that is composed of several sub-actions to speed up the

masking process. Only 2 of these Actions: Before Masking and Process will be covered in this guide.

4. You will need to first create your tri-map before you can enter your trial or license key.

For more tutorials and resources please see the Topaz ReMask User Guide or visit the Topaz ReMask

tutorials page online at: http://www.topazlabs.com/downloads

ReMask

For more ReMask tutorials and resources please visit: http://www.topazlabs.com/tutorials/remask/

Overview

 

 

 

 

Topaz ReMask allows you to quickly and easily create

Layer Masks for your digital images.

Use ReMask to transform your images and create

a variety of great scenes and effects.

ReMask

For more ReMask tutorials and resources please visit: http://www.topazlabs.com/tutorials/remask/

Tools

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These are the main Photoshop tools and palettes

that you will be using during the masking process.

1. Toolbox

2. Windows Menu

3. Actions Palette

4. Layers Palette

5. Swatches Palette

6. Channels Palette

ReMask

For more ReMask tutorials and resources please visit: http://www.topazlabs.com/tutorials/remask/

Getting Started

Topaz ReMask is a Photoshop intensive plug-in and does not have a user interface. This means that

you will work directly in Photoshop using your brush tool and paint bucket tool,

to create your tri-map, then process your image using ReMask to get your final layer mask.

If you go to Filter -> Topaz Labs -> ReMask and try to access Topaz ReMask before creating your tri-

map you will see the message below:

This occurs because when you go to access ReMask instead of opening an interface it is designed to

automatically process your image. The above message serves as a reminder to first create your tri-map

so that Topaz ReMask can analyze it and create your layer mask. Even to enter your trial or license key

you will still need to create your tri-map first.

ReMask

For more ReMask tutorials and resources please visit: http://www.topazlabs.com/tutorials/remask/

Getting Started

The quickest way to create your tri-map and get your layer mask is to use the Topaz ReMask Action set

which was automatically installed when you installed Topaz ReMask.

An Action is a set of recorded Photoshop steps that work as an automated memory of the enhance-

ment and adjustments you make to an image. By recording the steps as you make them, you can then

go back and reapply those exact changes to additional images automatically without having to manu-

ally make the changes. Actions are convenient for making adjustments and corrections to multiple im-

ages in a quick and unified manner.

Below is your Topaz ReMask Action Set. You can access by going to Window -> Actions.

ReMask

For more ReMask tutorials and resources please visit: http://www.topazlabs.com/tutorials/remask/

Getting Started

The very first thing you will need to do is load your Topaz ReMask Action set in Photoshop. To do this

go to Window -> Actions. Once your Actions Palette loads click on the palette’s menu button.

This will bring up your Actions Menu, from here select “Load Actions” and then you will navigate to

your Topaz Labs’ Actions folder to load your ReMask Action Set.

For Mac users it will be HD -> Library -> Application Support -> Topaz Labs

-> ReMask -> Actions and select the topaz_mask.atn file and click load.

For 32-bit Windows users it will be C:/Program Files -> Topaz Labs -> To-

paz ReMask -> Actions and select the topaz_mask.atn file and click load.

For 64-bit Windows users it be be C:/Program Files (x86) -> Topaz Labs ->

Topaz ReMask -> Actions and select the topaz_mask. atn file and click load.

Actions Menu

ReMask

For more ReMask tutorials and resources please visit: http://www.topazlabs.com/tutorials/remask/

Getting Started

The next thing you will need to do is bring up your Channels Palette. This will allow you to view the

tri-map that you will be creating. You can access it by going to Window -> Channels.

Your Channels Palette allows you to view and manage the various color channels within your image.

The top channel will be the RGB channel, followed by the individual color channels, spot color

channels and alpha color channels. For Topaz ReMask we will only be using the RGB and Topaz Mask

channels. Photoshop also includes a convenient thumbnail of the color channel to the left of the

channel name. This thumbnail will update with any changes that you make to the channel. You can

view and hide each channel by clicking on the eye.

ReMask

For more ReMask tutorials and resources please visit: http://www.topazlabs.com/tutorials/remask/

Getting Started

Now that your Topaz ReMask Action set and your Channels palette are set up you can begin creating

your tri-map. A tri-map is a user-generated mask map with three tone: black, white and gray. These

colors are used to identify what elements in your image that you want Topaz ReMask to analyze and

create your mask from.

Here is what your final tri-map will look like:

2. Gray AreaThe gray painted area represents the part of the image that you want to process. When you process your image, Topaz ReMask will analyze this area to help extract the un-wanted background from the desired image subject.

1. Black AreaThe black area represents the part of the image that you want to remove.

3. White AreaThe white area represents the part of the image that you want to keep.

 

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ReMask

For more ReMask tutorials and resources please visit: http://www.topazlabs.com/tutorials/remask/

Workflow

Start by opening up the image you want to mask. Then go to your Actions Palette, select the Before

Mask Action in your Topaz ReMask set and click the green “Play” button at the bottom of the palette.

This Action sets up your layer copy, creates your Layer Mask, selects your Channel, resets your Swatches

and selects the brush tool for you.

Toggle action command

Stop RecordPlay New Set New Action

Delete Action

Actions Sets

Action

Recorded Command

Dialog Control

 

ReMask

For more ReMask tutorials and resources please visit: http://www.topazlabs.com/tutorials/remask/

Workflow

Once the Before Action is complete you will see the following message as a reminder of how to create

your tri-map.

If you go to your Layers Palette (Window -> Layers) you will see that you background image has been

duplicated and that a Layer Mask has been added to that new layer and filled with white.

ReMask

For more ReMask tutorials and resources please visit: http://www.topazlabs.com/tutorials/remask/

Workflow

You will also notice that your brush tool has been loaded for you, however you will still need to set the

brush size, hardness and color.

Click on the arrow next the brush icon to open your brush menu. You can then set your brush size

(Master Diameter) to whatever size you prefer. You will need to set your brush hardness to 100%.

ReMask

For more ReMask tutorials and resources please visit: http://www.topazlabs.com/tutorials/remask/

Workflow

The first selection you will make on your tri-map will be with your gray brush. You can change your

brush color one of two ways:

1. Using your Swatches Palette (Window -> Swatches) hover over the gray color blocks until you find

the one labeled 50% gray.

2. Using your Color Picker on your Toolbox. Double-click on the Foreground Color picker to open. The

easiest way is to just change the “B” value in the first set to 50% and then select OK.

ReMask

For more ReMask tutorials and resources please visit: http://www.topazlabs.com/tutorials/remask/

Workflow

Use your brush tool and begin drawing an outline around the edges of the part of the image that you

want ReMask to analyze. (If your outline looks reddish or pinkish it is OK. )

 

ReMask

For more ReMask tutorials and resources please visit: http://www.topazlabs.com/tutorials/remask/

Workflow

 

Now that your gray outline is complete, it is time to fill in the parts of the image that you want to get

rid of with black. To do this, select your paint bucket tool then go to your Swatches Palette or

the Color Picker on your Toolbox and select black.

Click anywhere outside of the gray outline that you previously made to fill it with black.

ReMask

For more ReMask tutorials and resources please visit: http://www.topazlabs.com/tutorials/remask/

Workflow

If you notice that your black and gray selections look more pink or red it is OK, despite their appear-

ance they are still black and gray. This is because you are most likely viewing the RGB color channel

and not the Topaz Mask channel. Viewing in the RGB channel will give you a reddish tint to your tri-

map, while your Topaz Mask channel will show you the true black, white and gray colors; both views

are correct.

 

 

RGB eye open shows this view:

RGB eye closed shows this view:

ReMask

For more ReMask tutorials and resources please visit: http://www.topazlabs.com/tutorials/remask/

Workflow

Your tri-map is now complete. You can view your final tri-map by going to your Channels Palette (Win-

dow -> Channels) and make the Topaz Mask channel visible by clicking on the eye to hide it, then make

the RGB channel invisible by clicking on the eye to close it.

 

ReMask

For more ReMask tutorials and resources please visit: http://www.topazlabs.com/tutorials/remask/

Workflow

Now it is time to process your image with Topaz ReMask. This is also where you will be prompted to

enter your trial or license key if this is your first time using ReMask.

Go to your Actions Palette (Window -> Actions) and select the Process Action, then click on the green

“Play” button at the bottom of the Palette. This will create your Layer Mask.

ReMask

For more ReMask tutorials and resources please visit: http://www.topazlabs.com/tutorials/remask/

Workflow

If this is your first time running Topaz ReMask and you have not yet entered a trial or license key, then

when you select the Process Action the following message will pop up allowing you to enter your key:

1. Click on “Enter Key” 2. Enter name and key then click “OK”

ReMask will then continue the Process Action by analzying your tri-map and creating your Layer Mask.

ReMask

For more ReMask tutorials and resources please visit: http://www.topazlabs.com/tutorials/remask/

Workflow

Your Layer Mask is complete and you are ready to bring in a new background. If you go to your Layers

Palette (Window -> Layers) you can see the new mask on the duplicate layer. You can also view the

outline of the mask by going to your Channels Palette (Window -> Channels) and make the Topaz Mask

channel visible then make the RGB channel invisible.

To bring in a new image background, open up a second image file with your desired background. Then

drag that background into your image containing the new Layer Mask. Make sure that you put the

new background layer underneath your Layer Mask.

ReMask

For more ReMask tutorials and resources please visit: http://www.topazlabs.com/tutorials/remask/

Workflow

 

You can now play around with your new Layer Mask by bringing in different backgrounds and making

any other desired adjustments in Photoshop until you are happy with your final image.

ReMask

For more ReMask tutorials and resources please visit: http://www.topazlabs.com/tutorials/remask/

Workflow