heya; naw, tesign... i create an empty layer, then i can't paint on it. that is no help. so THEN i figured out, if you go to the layer mask and invert it (so it isnt blocking you), then you can paint on it. BUT inverting the mask causes the 'empty' layer to be filled with the canvas colour, so the hose pieces aren't on a transparent layer. unless you know some painter trick you're not telling me. (i have painter 5.) anyhow, i did manage to clip the pieces from the background and make decent trans maps and all... but they still weren't so great. guitta's are much better, so i'll find something else to do :)