Hi folks,

I don't really know how best to describe what I want to do, so I'm going to try explaining it in pictures.

Basically, I've made up a diffuse map for my character with bodypaint and I now want to make an ambient map, with only the paint showing on a black background. The problem is, I've used blend settings (namely screen and exclusion) to get the paint looking right on the skin and changing the skin alters the look of the paint. I want the paint to look precisely the same, only on black instead of on skin.

Can someone help, please?

Below are a couple of example screenies, one with skin, one with black, illustrating my problem.

Glen.

Hello Glenn

I hope this answer helps One way is to make a blank layer under the layer with the blend setting and then make the layer with the blend setting active and choose merge down or Ctrl+E.

For the alpha channel you probably have to make a layer mask on the layer using the alpha channel and either merge down with a blank layer or apply the layer mask. Right click on the layer mask and choose Apply layer mask.

Will look forward to your reply to see if my suggestion helps and works

Thanks for your reply. I tried merging down but it changes the appearance of the paint. I'm not sure how to create masks or anything as, when I select the layers, the mask options are greyed out.

Hello Glen which version of Photoshop are you using reason I ask is that creating layer mask has changed a bit from some version to others either because of where they have moved features to and such. Also are you trying to create like a tattoo onto the skin or like ooops I spilled paint on myself just trying to grasp what your final goal is

Hi, I'm using CS5 and it's more of a body paint deliberately applied and, as I said, able to glow, which is why I need the ambience map.

OK all ambient maps that I have created were made in the 3D application that I have built a model on and have been searching for ways to create an ambient map in photoshop and most of what I can find in my resources is using lighting to fake ambiance and I do not think that will achieve the result you want. as to creating an alpha I would create the alpha based on the layer that has your paint on it with out the exclusion then you can use that alpha with the exclusion layer. There are many tutorials on creating alpha and then incorporating them into other layers. Making alpha mask takes a bit or practice but once you get the basic technique down they become second nature. I hope someone else pops in and contributes some of their knowledge because at this point not sure what else I can offer to help

Thank you. When I say 'ambience map', I'm talking about a map which I will apply to the ambience setting in Poser's material room to make the paint glow. This is supposed to be glowing, coloured paint on skin. All I really need to do is have the glowing portions coloured and the not glowing portions black, that's it, it will glow in colours. It's surely not supposed to be that hard, I have the effect I'm looking for, I just want to take it off the skin and put it onto black exactly as it is. I swear Photoshop can't be that stupid that this is so finicky!

**I understand your frustration. But I don't think its a Photoshop problem. Its a poser problem I guessing. I've been away from Poser for awhile and slowly working my way back into it. So I'll add a question here. Does Poser do layering like Daz Studio does? If it does that would be your option.

Sorry if the doesn't really help. I'll have to do some research on that.**