books for PSE2 with add-ons

[TsMom]

I have PSE 2 in addition to Richard Lynch's Hidden Power Tools. The tools include layer mask, quick mask, curves, and many other things included with Photoshop. The book that came with the tools CD is so beyond me, and I feel completely lost. It has a lot of technical speak. I want to find a book that not only explains how to use these tools but what what can be done with them. What can you do with a layer mask or quick mask??? I have Scott Kelby's book for PSE 2 and I love it. Should I try his Down and Dirty Tricks book or one for one of the higher version of Photoshop? Any suggestions.

LaWanna

[Emma]

Check online, it's fast and free! Google Photoshop Tutorial quick mask, layer mask etc.

We have some tutorials here that will help you for both these things, however.

Quick Mask is just making a selection. When you enter quick mask mode, you see a red overlay that shows the selection borders in place of the marching ants. Use brushes, filters, and other tools and adjustments to edit the mask. Then when you exit Quick Mask mode, your selection will be in the same shape as the red overlay.
Using QMask to make funky image borders
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/tutorials/ps_borders.shtml
using the Quick Mask to use brushes to make a selection for extracting a photo subject, but this one can be done with the Selection Brush on Mask Mode in the Options Bar
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/tutorials/photo_depth.shtml

The Selection Brush is like Quick Mask, except only the brushes can be used for the Selection Brush. You can't use any other tools or filters on the Selection Brush, but you can for Quick Mask. Make sense?

For layer masks, that's another issue. That's creating a mask that covers up parts of your layer, like erasing it. But you can uncover those areas if you mess it up, or cover them partially for some cool effects with fading, etc. Here's a tutorial on that. These concepts are hard to swallow all at once, so just take your time with each.
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/tutorials/ps_layermasks.shtml

[TsMom]

OMG Emma,
Thank you so much. I used the tutorials you linked me to and now I get it. Turns out - as usual - that I was over thinking it.

LaWanna