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Photoshop Top 40, Feature #11: Opacity and Blend Modes

Submitted by deke on 2 February 2010 - 12:15am.
Feature #11: Opacity and Blend Modes

Welcome to a block of the most powerful options inside Photoshop: Opacity and Blend Modes. These include the options at the top of the Layers palette, not to mention those associated with the brush tool, the Calculations command, and a whole lot more. What these options do is blend pixels together, entirely parametrically--meaning no harm done--using math. Beautiful, lovely, gorgeous math. Read more » 

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Martini Hour 005, In Which Colleen Proves She Paid Attention in College

Submitted by colleen on 10 March 2009 - 1:05am.

Yes, my friends, it's time for another relaxing frolic in the frothy foam of Martini Hour. Oh, I know, one doesn't usually associate martinis with frothiness, but in this episode the lounge I dusted off my blender to whip up some Ramos Fizzes in homage to this week's theme: Blend modes.

And while the drinks may be sweet and frothy, the discussion is crisp and clarifying as a classic olive-laden martini. Here's what we whipped up for you:
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Photoshop CS3 Mask box art
Amazon.com

Photoshop CS3 Channels & Masks

Essentially a collection of luminance data that controls the transparency of an image, the modest alpha channel informs just about everything you do in Photoshop. and coming to terms with alpha channels (a.k.a. masks) is the most sure-fire way to boost the quality of your work in Photoshop. But masking isn’t easy. In fact, the elusive alpha channel has been described as the least understood feature in Photoshop’s enormous arsenal. Until now, that is. In Photoshop CS3 Channels and Masks, expert Deke McClelland blows the lid off the topic. Read more » 

List price: $149.95USD
Photoshop CS2 Mask box art
Amazon.com

Photoshop CS2 Channels and Masks

The elusive alpha channel remains one of the most misunderstood yet powerful tools in Photoshop. Alpha channels are collections of luminance data that control the transparency of an image, and they inform just about every aspect of Photoshop. Selections, layer boundaries, masks, the Quick Mask mode, layer masks, knockouts, and masking with the Channels palette all rely on alpha channels. In Photoshop CS2 Channels and Masks, award-winning author and Photoshop expert Deke McClelland teaches channels and masks comprehensively. Read more » 

List price: $149.95USD