Photoshop Elements does not support masks like Photoshop does, but there is still a way you can use grayscale masks to create interesting edge effects. This site and many others offer free grayscale masks you can download for this purpose.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 5 minutes
Here's How:
- Please note that this method does create transparency, but it does not allow you to retain all the texture of the original mask. It may not work with every mask and works best with masks that are pure black & white.
- Open a photo and the mask you want to apply to it.
- If necessary, rotate the mask so it is the same orientation as the photo. (Image > Rotate >Canvas 90°)
- Active the mask image, go to Image > Resize > Image Size. While the Image Size dialog is on-screen, go to the Window menu and choose the file name of the photo you'll be applying the mask to.
- Click OK and the mask will take on the same dimensions as the photo.
- Select the magic wand tool and set tolerance to somewhere between 100-200. The higher the number, the larger the selected area will be.
- Click in the white area of the mask to make a selection. If you're not happy with it, undo, adjust the tolerance and select again.
- Switch to the move tool and drag and drop from the mask image onto the photo. Before releasing the mouse button, hold down the shift key to center the object in the other document.
- Double click the background layer in the layers palette to convert it to a layer.
- Drag the photo above the mask that you just copied over.
- Type Ctrl-G to group this layer with the one below.
Tips:
- If you're happy with the results, you may wish to merge the two layers. Your transparency will be retained when you merge the layers.
