User Manual

Contents
16 13. Recovery (Foreground) 14. Desaturation (Foreground) 16 16

Topaz ReMask

I. Installation A. How to Install B. Entering Your Key C. Host-Specific Installation 1. Paint Shop Pro II. Uninstalling A. How to uninstall III. Introduction A. Masking Unveiled 1. What is Masking? 2. Benefits of Masking? 3. When is Masking Needed? 4. Why Use ReMask 3? 5. How Does ReMask 3 Work? B. Topaz ReMask 1. About Topaz ReMask 2. Primary Functions of ReMask C. New ReMask Features III. Work Area A. Interface B. Preview C. Tri-Map Technology D. Tools 1. Zoom 2. General 3. Basic Brushes 4. Topaz Magic Brush 5. Fills 6. Resets 7. Compute 8. Single-Color Selection Brush 9. Color Range 10. Dual-Color Selection Brush 11. Mask Hardness 12. Mask Strength
A. Menu 1. Preferences 2. Enable High-Quality Compute 3. Enable Sticky Brush Mode 4. Enable Auto-Create Layer 5. Enable Use Layer Mask 6. Enable Tooltips 7. Enable Auto-Update 8. Check for Update 9. Enter Key 10. Set Background Layer 11. Whats This? 12. User Guide 13. Tutorials 14. Tech Support 15. Product Info 16. About IV. Work Flow A. Sample Project #1 B. Sample Project #2 C. Sample Project #3 D. Refining Tips E. Merging & Blending V. Additional Resources A. Glossary B. FAQs C. Shortcut Keys D. Connect E. Company Info

Installation

Entering Your Key Entering your trial key allows you to save your projects and print them during your evaluation period. Entering your license key allows you do the same, except without any time limitations. 1. Start by opening up an image in Photoshop. 2. Go to Filters -> Topaz Labs and select ReMask 3. Once the program opens click on Menu -> Enter key. 3. You can then copy and paste or type your key in. Be sure to delete anything in the key field before entering your key.
Important: To install the product on a second computer, you will need to download Topaz ReMask and then enter your same license key.
Topaz ReMask is a Photoshop plug-in, which means it wont run by itself and requires a compatible host program. To Install 1. Close Photoshop or other image editing program if you are using it. 2. Open the Topaz ReMask dmg or exe file, double-click on the Topaz ReMask installer, and then follow the onscreen instructions.

Mac Dmg

Windows Exe
3. Your Topaz plug-ins will automatically be installed in your Photoshop plug-ins folder. 4. After the installation, you will need to enter your license or trial key. Important for Mac Users: After installation, Topaz ReMask will be installed in the following folder: Macintosh HD -> Library -> Application Support -> Topaz Labs -> ReMask 3. If your Photoshop is installed in a customized location, you will need to manually create a shortcut (alias) link inside folder <Photoshop install folder> -> Plug-ins that links to Macintosh HD -> Library -> Application Support -> Topaz Labs -> ReMask3 -> Plug-ins.

ReMask Tri-Map

Photoshop and other host software support many Image Modes, such as Grayscale, RGB, LAB, CMYK, etc. Images can also be 8, 16, or 32 bits per channel. Topaz ReMask supports both 8 bits per channel and 16 bits per channel. Topaz ReMask supports RGB mode only. To work on black-and-white images, first convert them to RGB mode.

3. Choose C: \ Program Files \ Topaz Labs \ Topaz ReMask plug-ins and click OK.
How to install Topaz ReMask in Paintshop Pro 1. First launch PaintShop Pro. 2. Go to Menu file -> Preferences -> File Locations. Select Plug-ins from the File Types list and click Add.
4. Topaz ReMask 3 is now available to use. Simply go to Effects -> Plug-ins and select Topaz ReMask 3.

Uninstalling

3. Select Programs, then Uninstall a Program. 4. Select Topaz ReMask and click remove. Windows 7* 1. Quit Photoshop (or other editing program). 2. Click on the Start Menu and select Control Panel -> Programs -> Programs and Features. 3. Select Topaz ReMask and click uninstall. *Please note that if you also have the 64-bit version of ReMask installed, then you will need to first uninstall this version before you can uninstall the regular version.
To uninstall Topaz ReMask follow these instructions: Mac 1. Quit Photoshop (or other editing program). 2. Navigate to the Topaz Labs support files and frames located at: Macintosh HD -> Library -> Application Support -> Topaz Labs. 3. Locate the Topaz ReMask file and move it to the trash. You will need to enter your system password to OK this change. 4. Navigate to your Photoshop plug-ins folder located at: Applications -> Photoshop -> Plug-ins 5. Locate any leftover Topaz ReMask files and move them to the trash. Windows XP* 1. Quit Photoshop (or other editing program). 2. Click on the Start Menu and select Control Panel. 3. Double-click on Add / Remove programs.

Before Topaz ReMask

4. Select Topaz ReMask and click remove. Windows Vista* 1. Quit Photoshop (or other editing program). 2. Click on the Start Menu and select Control Panel.

After Topaz ReMask

Introduction
How Does Topaz ReMask 3 Work? Topaz ReMask streamlines the masking process using a new innovative tri-map technique. The tri-map, or user-generated mask-map is made up of three tones: green, red and blue. Users are able to quickly define the elements in their image that they want to keep using green; elements that they want to cut using red; and elements that they want Topaz ReMask 3 to figure out using blue. Selections are made using the brush tools and then Topaz ReMask 3 is able to analyze the user-made selections and isolate the image subject with precision.

Masking Unveiled

What is Masking? Masking is the process of isolating a subject or specific image elements that you wish to preserve, then erasing everything else that you do not want. It is also referred to as extraction or cutouts. What are the benefits of masking? Masking allows you to take the desired subject and elements and cut them out and then merge them into another image scene or background. Masking makes it easy to change the theme, scene or setting of your digital photography subjects. Masking is not just for creating composite images; it also makes it possible to adjust only parts of the image. For example, selectively increasing saturation, contrast, brightness, etc - also called selective adjustments. When do I need to mask? Masking your digital images is ideal when you want to remove backgrounds and unwanted detail elements or to protect an area of your image from adjustments. Why do I need Topaz ReMask 3? Topaz ReMask 3 features easy to use, intuitive tools that will save you time and money by simplifying the masking process. With Topaz ReMask 3 you can eliminate the busy work of using masks, paths, layer adjustments, selections and eraser tools to isolate a subject in your image.
For video tutorials and other helpful resources please visit the Topaz ReMask 3 tutorials page at: www.topazlabs.com/tutorials/remask/
Primary Functions of Topaz ReMask: 1. Simplified and lightning-fast masking and extraction. 2. Easily extract highly intricate image details and even some transparent objects as well. 3. Precise cutting for delicate and complex images like hair, fur and transparent objects. 4. Preserve edges and other intricate image details. 5. Make a believable composite that smoothly blends multiple images together
About Topaz ReMask Topaz ReMask is a masking and extraction tool that makes it easy to extract elements from your digital images. Isolating an object from a background is typically a difficult and time-consuming task, however ReMask simplifies the process with its intuitive tools to help you quickly make extractions. ReMask makes merging multiple image elements seamless, giving you ultimate control over creating and refining your image scenes.
With Topaz ReMask you can: Easily extract intricate image details Quickly isolate areas for selective adjustments Make unique compositions Replace backgrounds Selectively blur only the background for a simulated bokeh effect Creatively emphasize the subject easily and naturally

To connect with other Topaz users, participate in Topaz contests and to see the latest tips, tricks and tutorials sign up for the new Topaz Forum online at: www.topazlabs.com/forum

New ReMask 3 Features

Topaz ReMask 3.0 Features
1. Color decontamination technology. Helps solve color bleed issues. 2. Better hair detection and selection technology. 3. Speed Boost. Increase in processing speeds. 4. Auto Layer Creation. Option (enable / disable in preferences) to automatically create a new layer (in Photoshop CS3 and above only) when invoking the plugin. 5. New Refining Toolset. Mask adjustment (strength and hardness sliders) and foreground color (recovery and desaturation sliders). 6. New Brush Tools. Single color selection (with color range slider) and dual color selections. 7. Split screen options. 2-screen view or 4-screen view. 8. Layer Mask Option (in preferences). Let Topaz ReMask automatically create and a layer mask for non-destructive editing.
Check out the new Topaz Forum to connect with other Topaz users and to enter Topaz contests and win great prizes. Sign up online at: www.topazlabs.com/forum

Work Area

Interface (Main View)
The Topaz ReMask 3 interface is straight forward, simple and very easy to use. Youll be a pro after experimenting for a bit. In order to make sense of the program features and the function of the tools, we have divided the interface into five sections.

1. Preview Navigator

Displays the region of the preview image you are currently focused on.

2. Editing Parameters

Displays all of the tools that you will need to successfully create your mask.

3. Editing Views

Displays editing views used during the masking process.

4. Preview Window

Displays the preview of each editing view.

5. Split Screen Views

2-screen and 4-screen options used to compare each editing view during the masking process.

Preview Section

The Preview section is the big image on the right that shows you the processed preview of the image. To pan the preview image, select the hand tool and hold the left mouse button on the preview image and drag it around. You can also pan your preview image by holding the spacebar key and moving your mouse or by using the red selection box in your preview navigator.
ReMask 3 gives you five views for viewing your image in the preview section while creating your mask. It also includes new split screen capabilities, which allows users to edit in a single, double or quadruple view.

Tri-Map

Original

Tri-Map Technology

Topaz ReMask uses tri-map technology to create your extraction. Using the green, red and blue brush tools, you will define the areas that you want to keep, remove and compute. 1. Red Area The red area represents the part of the image that you want to cut.
2. Blue Area The blue painted area represents the part of the image that you want to process. When you process your image, Topaz ReMask 3 will analyze this area to help extract the unwanted background from the desired image subject. Tri-map Tab view
3. Green Area The green area represents the part of the image that you want to keep.
Topaz Magic Brush The Topaz Magic Brush tool (which becomes available after you select Compute Mask) allows you to make intricate detail eliminations and recoveries to selected parts of your image. It will only affect the blue area of your initial tri-map. It will not change your original red and green selections. Fills The fill tools allow you to fill all of your image or just a portion of your image with the selected color.
Zoom Tools Allow you to zoom in and out of specific areas of your image to allow for more precise selections.
General Tools The general tools include: undo, redo, selection and the hand tool. These tools help make your workflow more efficient.
Basic Brushes The basic brush tools allow you to select the elements in the image that you want to keep, remove and compute. The basic brushes will turn into the Topaz Magic brush after you select Compute. Brush sizes range from 1 - 100.
Resets The reset tools allow you to reset your entire image to the selected tri-map color. Using this feature will erase any previous selections made.
Compute The Compute Mask tool is what will analyze the tri-map selections you made and create your image mask.

Foreground Color

Background Color
The Compute Mode gives you the option of selecting speed or quality when it comes to processing larger images only. (Change this in your preferences menu) Adjusting the quality settings will have no affect whatsoever on small images. The technology behind the quality settings allows ReMask 3 to process larger images by shrinking the image, computing the tri-map selections and then enlarging back to size. Additionally, the high-quality setting will refine the edges after resizing. In addition to the basic brushes (for tri-map creation) and the magic brush tool, Topaz ReMask 3 has two additional types of brush tools and a new toolset for additional refining.

Please note: After you make your tri-map selections you will need to click on Compute Mask for your selections to be analyzed and your mask created. After you do that you can make any additional changes or refinements to your mask and then click on OK to fully process your image and save your mask back to your host program. Failure to click on Compute Mask before you select OK will result in your selections being lost.
Single Color Selection Brushes These brushes allow you to brush out the foreground or background area in your image, based on the color selected and the setting of the Color Range slider. Color Range The Color Range slider allows you to determine the spectrum of shades affected within the image based on the main color selection. Dual Color Selection Brushes (for transparency) This brush allows you to define two colors (keep and remove) to target at once. The Dual Color brush is key for images where transparency is a factor because it will allow users to select a foreground color, such as the white of a wedding veil, and a background color to be removed from behind the veil.
The Dual Color brush allows users to brush out color detail in finer structures in your image, such as hair, based on the foreground and background colors that are specified. It is key for images where transparency is a factor because it will allow users to select a foreground color, such as the white of a wedding veil, and a background color to be removed from behind the veil.
Mask Hardness Determines how hard your mask is applied to subject edges in your image. The higher the parameter the harder your edges will be. The lower the parameter, the softer (more feathered) your edges will be.
Mask Strength Determines the brightness of the mask. Increasing this parameter will give you more detail by making the weaker mask details stronger. Recovery (Foreground Color) Revives the color of your foreground - in weaker / more transparent areas. Desaturation (Foreground Color) Desaturates the edges of your mask (in weaker / more transparent areas) to help with color contamination and blending.
Preferences Select this to enable or disable the program tool tips or the Auto-Update feature.
You can access Topaz ReMasks menu by clicking on the Menu button at the bottom of the interface.

Enable High Quality Compute Using the High Quality (slow) option will process your larger images slower, however your final processed image will have better quality.
Visit the Topaz Labs Blog which features the latest Photography, software and design information including tutorials, videos, and thoughts about both Topaz and non-Topaz topics.
The default setting (when unchecked) is Draft quality (fast) which will process your larger images faster, however you could see blurring or distortion of fine edges.
Click the Show Details button to get find out whats included in the update before you install.
Enable Sticky Mode for f/b brushes Allows you to enable the sticky mode for your DualColor Selection brush. Enable Auto-Create Layer Automatically creates a new image layer for your in Photoshop. (Only available in CS3 and above) Enable Use Layer Mask Automatically saves your ReMask extraction back to a layer mask. Enable Tooltips Allows you to enable or disable the pop up tips during your workflow Enable Auto-Update Allows ReMask to automatically check for and download available Topaz ReMask updates. Check for Update Checks for available Topaz ReMask updates.
Enter Key Select this to enter your trial or purchased license key.
to help you with your ReMask workflow. Tech Support Brings you to the Topaz Labs support page where you can request assistance from our support specialists, contact our customer service team, retrieve lost license keys, or browse through our Knowledge Base. Product Info Select this to go to the Topaz ReMask web page to learn more about the Topaz ReMask plug-in. About Select this to see what version of ReMask you currently have.
Set Background Color Use Set Background Color option in the menu to change the background color on your mask for better visibility.
Whats This? Select this (or click F1) then click on a feature in the Simplify interface to learn more about it. Users Guide Select it to pull up this user guide. Tutorials Takes you to the Topaz ReMask tutorials page where you can access additional written and video tutorials
To keep up-to-date with the latest product information, special offers, new releases and update notifications, sign up for the Topaz Monthly Newsletter online at: www.topazlabs.com/list/

Workflow

You can see in the Before and After shots that the original image background has been cut out. The model, her feathery headpiece and the red motorcycle have been precisely extracted and we were able to add in a new, more deserving background to liven up the shot. In the following steps, we will show you how to achieve these same optimal results with your own photos, following this model.

Sample Project #1

Please see page 16 for details on the function / purpose of each tool.
You dont have to be precise with your blue brush, however an abundance of blue may result in more refining at the end.
models headpiece nice and feathery. 11. We will however, slightly increase the Recovery slider under the Foreground Color option. This will restore the color around the edges of our subject.
Once the background remnants are removed we can begin working with the Mask Adjustment and Foreground Color sliders to perfect our mask. 1o. For this image we will not make any adjustments to the Mask Adjustment sliders.so that we keep the
13. After a final check of our mask we can click OK to process our changes and save our masked image back to Photoshop. 14. Back in Photoshop we can add in the new background to finish our image transformation.
12. Once we are happy with the selections we can use the tabs to take a look at our mask in each of the views.or we can see all of them at once using the 4-screen view.

Tri-map

You can see in the Before and After shots that the even the most intricate details of the tree and blades of grass have been isolated and the old background removed. In the following steps, we will show you how to achieve these same creative results with your own photos, following this model - which uses color sampling.

Sample Project #2

In this workflow we will look at another way to tackle the masking process. This workflow makes use of ReMask 3s new Single Color Selection brushes, which come in handy for tricky projects like trees, which have all those branches and leaves and are typically harder to mask.
3. Go to the Reset section of your tool panel and click on the Blue Reset button.this will fill your image with Blue (compute). Now, using the Single-Color Selection brush we will add our Green (keep) and Red (remove) selections.
1. Open an image file. 2. Go to Filter -> Topaz Labs and select ReMask 3. When ReMask 3 loads it will automatically open to the Tri-map view and your image will be filled with green.
blue) will be selected. Since the Red (remove) SingleColor Selection brush is being used, the selection will show up in red on your tri-map.indicating the portion of the image to be removed. 4. Repeat this process, selecting different colors in the background (adjusting the Color Range if necessary) and then brushing it out. For this image we repeated the process 4 times. Selecting 3 shades of blue for the sky and then white for the clouds. Once a good portion of the background is selected in Red, we can move on to our Green (keep) selections. 5. Click on the Green Single Color Selection Brush to activate the color picker. Then we will select a color from within the tree to be kept. This tree has various shades of green and brown. So we will repeat this process 3 more times, brushing throughout the tree and grass.

selected should be the foreground (keep) color and then the second color selection will be for the background (remove). 14. When selecting the keep and remove colors be sure to select the true color values. So instead of clicking on the white in the veil - which is contaminated from the blue of the background, we are going to
refine our mask. Once the mask refinements are complete we can click OK to process the image and save it back in Photoshop. From there we can add in a new background or make any additional image enhancements.
16. After we have finished brushing the keep and remove selections in the brides veil click on the Compute button to allow ReMask to analyze the new tri-map and create the extraction. 17. Now, if desired, we can use the sliders in the Mask Adjustment and Foreground Color sections to further

Refining Tips

After creating the tri-map, there are several tools available for refining. Refining allows you to further clean up your extraction to help ensure the best, most natural looking image possible.
Please note: Before you can access and use the refining tools you will need to first create and compute the tri-map.
For areas that have patches of the background leftover (or patches of the foreground missing) you will want to use the Magic Brush. Select the red brush and then select a small brush size and then make short strokes down the refinement area. Each time you make a stroke your image will automatically update reflecting that refined selection. Select the green brush and recover detail lost by making small strokes down the over processed area to restore those details.
To connect with other Topaz users, participate in Topaz Contests and to see the latest tips, tricks and tutorials sign up for the new Topaz Forum online at: www.topazlabs.com/forum

Merging & Blending

Masking is the hard part, but merging and blending are also key parts in making your two (or more) images look like they were made for each other. In this section, we will show you how to take your newly masked image and create a whole new scene with a new background.
Please note: adding new backgrounds is done in Photoshop (or other editing program). This is a quick overview.for additional, more in-depth information please refer to your Photoshop user guide.

Go from Masked Image 1

to new background image 2

and create image 3

To do this go to File -> Open and select the image you want and then click OK to open it in Photoshop. (You should still have your newly masked image open in Photoshop.) You will also want to make sure to unlock the layer if it is locked before you try moving it.
Merging We will cover two different ways of merging your images. The first way to merge your two images is by manually dragging the new background image into the project file that has your mask in it.
image into the the project that contains your new layer mask. Adding the new background will create a new layer in your project.
Then, go to your Photoshop toolbox and select the Move tool and drag your new background
Click on the layer that has the thumbnail of the new image that you just added to the project and drag it below the layer that has the thumbnail of your masked image.
Now that you have successfully added your new background into your project file you will notice that it is on top of your masked image. However it needs to go behind your masked image.
To put the background behind your masked image so that it looks like the background you will need to go to your Layers Palette. If your Layers Palette is not loaded you can access it by going to Window -> Layers and it will come up.
To resize either your masked image or your new backround image, select the appropriate layer in the Layers Palette. Then go Edit -> Transform -> Scale. Grab the corner of the image and scale it up or down. You can also use the following shortcut keys: CMD + T (Mac) or CTRL + T (Win)
To do this, you will need to already have your newly ReMasked image open and then go to FIle -> Place. Select the new background image that you would like to add and then click Place. This will automatically add the new image into your open project file.
The second merging method that you can use is to place the new background file into your project using Photoshops place feature.
You can then go to your Layers Palette to see that your image has been added as a new layer. You can rearrange your layers to put the newly added background layer behind your masked layer.
Blending Blending makes the transition of your masked image into your new background image seamless. There are many ways and various tools that you can use to do this. We will review just a few. If desired, you can incorporate the use of any of the basic Photoshop tools including: Blur Tool - Blurring softens edges and blend transitional areas. Sharpen -Sharpening increases contrast in the painted areas. Smudge - Smudging blends the pixels where you paint simulating the action of dragging a finger through wet paint. Dodge Tool - Dodging lightens areas lighter and harden edges Burn Tool - burning darkens areas darker and harden edges, Sponge Tool - changes the level of saturation of colors for an area of an image.

Lets look at the following example to get a better idea of how to use your Photoshop tools to perfect your image blending. The tool that you will find most useful is the Sponge Tool. It will always be a good option to use when doing final touch ups on your blending work. It will fix mismatched image colors. The Sponge Tool adjusts the saturation of the area that you paint. When you change the level of saturation of colors for an area of an image you are essentially draining color intensity (Desaturate) or infusing color intensity (Saturate). You can change the mode to Desaturate or Saturate at the top of your Photoshop interface.

1. Desaturated

2. Original 3. Saturated
Smooth - Smooths out corners and jagged lines. Expand - Enlarges the selection. Contract - Reduces the selection. Feather - Feathering gives a smoother fill around the edges of your masked image.
Blending Blending makes the transition of your masked image into your new background image seamless. There are many ways and various tools that you can use to do this. We will review just a few. If desired, you can incorporate the use of any of the basic Photoshop tools including: Blur Tool - Blurring softens edges and blend transitional areas. Sharpen -Sharpening increases contrast in the painted areas. Smudge - Smudging blends the pixels where you paint simulating the action of dragging a finger through wet paint. Dodge Tool - Dodging lightens areas and softens the appearance of edges. Burn Tool - Burning darkens areas and hardens the appearance of edges. Sponge Tool - changes the level of saturation of colors for an area of an image. You can also use the tools under Photoshops Modify option to finesse the border of your masked image. You will first need to make a selection around the part of the image you want to work on before you can access the Modify menu options. Border - Takes the border of your selection and turns it into a two lined selection with soft edges.
Another option for blending and matching colors within your masked image and your background image for a smoother transition would be to use Topaz Adjust to enhance the image exposure, color and saturation.

Glossary

Color bleed (color contamination) - the transfer of color between nearby objects, caused by the colored reflection of indirect light. Color Decontamination - reduces color cast on the edges of a selection. Color channel The visual component of a color digital image that represents all the pixels in that picture made up of a specific primary color. For example, in a typical digital photo, the primary colors of red, green and blue (from the RGB color model) create all the colors in that photo, which may be represented by three color channels, each of red, green or blue. Desaturate - Decreasing the intensity of a color (hue). Diameter (brush) - Controls the size of the brush. Download The process of transmitting or transferring data from one device to another. Export Outbound data transfer in a format that can be used by other programs. Filter Adjustment Allows you to shift the overall color in an image. Green Area (Tri-map View) - The active area, which indicates the portion of the image that you wish to keep. Gradient - The gradient tool creates a gradual blend between multiple colors. Hardness (brush) - Controls the size of the brushs hard center.

50% Gray The undefined area that the computer (Topaz Mask) will need to figure out. Achromatic - Without color. Action A recorded task that works as an automated memory of the enhancement and adjustment steps executed on an image. Once an Action has been recorded it can be invoked and reapplied to other images without manually making the changes. Adjustment Layer A layer that allows you to adjust the look of an original image with out making it permanent. With adjustment layers you can make various changes to a layer without damaging it and go back and readjust it at anytime. Algorithm Any bit of code or programming that defines a process. Alpha Channel Photoshop alpha channels are masks through which you can apply effects. The alpha channel is an 8-bit channel, which means it has 256 levels of gray from 0 (black) to 255 (white). An alpha channel lets you save and load selections. Black Area - The masked area, which indicates the portion of the image that you wish to get rid of. Blue Area - The undefined area that the computer (Topaz Mask) will need to figure out. Chroma - Purity or intensity of color. CMYK Cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. A color model commonly used for 4-color printing by printers to define and mix all of the colors they are capable of outputting.
Quick Mask - Allows you to paint on your selection (or the masked area). Then once you have your selection, you can delete it, recolor it, mask it, etc. Red Area - The masked area, which indicates the portion of the image that you wish to get rid of. Refine Improve (something) by making small changes to make it more subtle and accurate. RGB Red, Green, Blue. The color model that is used in digital cameras and by computer monitors. Saturate - Increasing the intensity of a color (hue). Tri-Map User-generated mask map with three tones: white (keep) , black (remove) and gray (compute) - Mask View or Green (keep), Red (remove) and blue (compute) - tri-map view. Transparency - in reference to a portion of an image that is completely invisible (as it has been removed). White Area (Mask View) - The active area, which indicates the portion of the image that you wish to keep.
Import Inbound data transfer into a file or document. Layer Mask An editable selection, attached to a layer that tells Photoshop how to deal with the layer that it is attached to. It enables us to get rid of a part of the layer but with the possibility to go back and edit the result at any time (also called nondestructive editing). It in fact blocks part of the layer from appearing, as if erased, while still being there. Layer Masks provide extra flexibility to your Photoshop layers. Non-Destructive Editing - A form of editing where the original content is not modified in the course of editing - instead the edits themselves are edited. This allows for easy adjustments and images effects at a later time making photo editing quick and flexible. Opacity The amount of transparency a layer has. Pan and Zoom - A useful function that allows users to magnify the captured image in the preview and then, by using the cursor, to move or pan around the image. Typically Pan and Zoom allows users to magnify the image 2x or 4x time. By magnifying the images and zeroing in on a specific section, you can see details not visible when the entire image is sized to fit the preview. Photo-editing or Imaging software Programs in which you can alter your photos and / or create digital images. Depending on the software, you can improve exposure, color and other attributes of your picture, paint on it, add type, apply special effects, remove noise, resize it, combine it with other pictures, prepare it for email or posting on the web, output it to a printer or do any number of other manipulations or edits. Plug-in - Computing (of a module or software) able to be added to a system to give extra features or functions.

Frequently Asked Questions
paz ReMask 3. Afterwards, right-click any empty spot and paste the Topaz_remask.plugin file into the Photoshop Plug-Ins folder. 3. Quit and restart Photoshop and Topaz ReMask will appear in your Filters menu. You will have to open up an image and unlock the background layer in order to use Topaz ReMask 3. I go to Filter -> ReMask 3 and I get a message that says: Cannot Proceed. Background layers can not be used. Please create a duplicate layer. Topaz ReMask 3 can not be used on a locked background layer. You will need to go to your layers palette and unlock the background layer. It would also be best to create a duplicate layer so that you can revert back to the original at any time if necessary. Or, you can enable the auto-create layer feature in the ReMask 3 program by going to Menu -> Preferences.
I need a Topaz ReMask 3 trial key. Visit www.topazlabs.com/downloads for a trial key. Please check your Spam folder because your Spam filter sometimes filters out the automated email. If you need more time to evaluate, please contact us at: http://www.topazlabs.com/support for an extended trial key. I cant find Topaz Mask 3 in the Photoshop Filters menu. If youre using Windows: 1. Go to C:\Program Files\Topaz Labs\Topaz ReMask3\ Plugins. Right click the file tlremask.8bf and click Copy. 2. Go to your Photoshop Plug-Ins folder, usually located at C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CSx\Plug-Ins. First, delete anything that is currently there that has to do with Topaz ReMask 3. This includes any folder that might be labeled TopazReMask3 or any tlremask.8bf file. After doing that, right-click on any empty space and click Paste. 3. Quit and restart Photoshop and Topaz ReMask 2 will appear in your Filters menu. You will have to open up an image and unlock the background layer in order to use Topaz ReMask 3. If youre using Mac: 1. Go to /Library/Application Support/Topaz Labs/ReMask2/Plugins and right-click Topaz_Remask3.plugin. Click Copy. 2. Go to Applications/Adobe Photoshop CSx/Plug-Ins (or wherever your Photoshop Plug-Ins folder is located). Delete any current reference to To-
If I use the 30-day trial version will I need to uninstall the trial version before I upgrade to a full version? No, the Topaz trial software is designed to be unlocked to become the full version simply by entering a license key. The full license key will be e-mailed to you immediately after you purchase the software. Where do I enter my key? To enter your key please open an image in Photoshop and go to Filter -> Topaz Labs -> ReMask 3 -> Menu -> Enter Key. You can then copy & paste or type in your license key and then select OK.

ReMask 2

Selective Adjustments with ReMask 2

TOPAZ REMASK 2

Selective Adjustments
Masking and cutouts are common tasks in Photography and design because they allow for the correction or enhancement of specific visual elements in digital images. Isolating image elements is generally a very complex, tedious and slow process. Using ReMask 2 improves and speeds up this process significantly, and the great thing about it is that it is a multi-purpose tool. This allows a variety of creative tasks to easily be achieved. Using Topaz ReMask 2 to create masks and cutouts will allow you to pinpoint precise areas for adjustment in your digital images. You can then selectively make changes to any part (or multiple parts) of your images. Some of the selective adjustments that you can make include:
Color adjustments Sharpening key features Selective Blurring (Bokeh)
Black & White with a splash of color Adding in new backgrounds Photo collage
Selective adjustments contribute heavily to many of the popular photography and design trends. Using ReMask 2 to create cutouts for selective adjustments will allow you to add zest and personality to your images. In addition, using the selective adjustment method also allows you to make specific repairs to problem areas within your digital images without affecting other areas of your image. This Selective Adjustment guide will explore some of the various tasks that ReMask 2 can be used for. For more ReMask 2 tutorials and resources please visit: http://www.topazlabs.com/tutorials/remask/
ReMask 2 Color Adjustments
Using Topaz ReMask 2 you can isolate a specific image element and add a color adjustment to enhance your image. By using ReMask 2 to cutout a specific section of your image you are able to make changes and enhancements directly to that selection without altering the rest of your image.
This effect can easily be achieved with 3 main steps:

Before

1. Create a duplicate layer of your image and name it. 2. Create your mask (using ReMask 2) on the new layer. 3. Use Topaz Adjust or Photoshops Hue / Saturation feature to adjust the color in the selected portion of the image. Once you have your image element separated you can also make additional detail enhancements using Topaz Detail.
For more ReMask 2 tutorials and resources please visit: http://www.topazlabs.com/tutorials/remask/
For this example we will be using this image of this pink flower floating in water.
1. Create a duplicate layer in Photoshop and name it Flower. 2. Add a Layer Mask to the new Flower layer. 3. Select the new Flower layer and click on the image thumbnail on that layer. 4. Go to Filter -> Topaz Labs and select ReMask 2.
5. Your image will already be filled with Green. Use the zoom and pan tools to focus in on the flower. 6. Using the blue brush tool, make a selection around the flower. You can zoom in closer and reduce the brush size to mark difficult areas if necessary. 7. Select the Red Fill tool and fill the outside of the blue outline to remove that portion of the image. 8. Under the compute section select the processing quality - Draft or High to process the tri-map.
9. View the selection in the various views: a. Mask View b. Keep View c. Cutout view 10. Make any necessary refinements using the Magic Brush Tool. Remember that the Red Brush will remove image details and the Green Brush will restore image details. 11. Make any desired refinements using the Mask Hardness slider under the compute section. 12. Click OK and save work back to Photoshop.

12. In your Layers Palette, you will notice that your mask has been saved back to your Layer Mask. You can view your masked Flower layer by hiding the Layer 0 underneath it. This will show you just the flower on a transparent background. The next part of the process is to adjust the color of the flower. Using Photoshops Hue / Saturation feature we will be able to change the color of the flower to yellow. 1. In your Layers Palette, select the Flower layer. 2. Go to Image -> Adjustments -> Hue / Saturation Adjust the Hue, Saturation and Lightness sliders until satisfied and then select OK.
You can also enhance the detail in the flower using Topaz Detail. 1. In your Layers Palette, select the Flower layer. 2. Go to Filter -> Topaz Labs -> Detail.
13. When Topaz Detail Loads scroll through the presets on the left side of the interface until you find one that fits your desired detail sharpening level.

Before Topaz Detail

Again, you can make further adjustments manually using the sliders in the Details, Tone and Color tabs.

After Topaz Detail

ReMask 2 Sharpening Key Features
Using ReMask 2 to select specific parts of an image to sharpen is a great way to enhance the details in your image. By breaking your image down into sections using ReMask 2, you are able to sharpen each section of the image with a different level of severity. This effect can easily be achieved with 3 main steps: 1. Create a 2 duplicate layers of your image and name them. 2. Create your masks (using ReMask 2) on the new layers. 3. Use Topaz Detail or Photoshops Sharpening feature to sharpen the detail in the image parts.
Once you have your image elements separated you can also make additional detail and color enhancements or even add in a new background to give the image a whole new visual dynamic.
For this example we will be using this image of two birds perched on a tree branch.
1. Create 2 duplicate layers in Photoshop. Name one Birds and name the other Branch so that we can easily identify them later on. 2. Add a Layer Mask to the new Birds layer. 3. Select the new Birds layer and click on the image thumbnail on that layer. 4. Go to Filter -> Topaz Labs and select ReMask 2.
5. Your image will already be filled with Green. Use the zoom and pan tools to focus in on the birds. 6. Using the blue brush tool, make a selection around the birds. You can zoom in closer and reduce the brush size to mark difficult areas. 7. Select the Red Fill tool and fill the outside of the blue outline to remove that portion of the image. Also, fill in any areas surrounded with a blue outline that need to be removed such as between the birds heads there the larger birds beak is touching the wing of the smaller bird. 8. Under the compute section select the processing quality - Draft or High to process the tri-map.

13. In your Layers Palette, you will notice that your mask has been saved back to your Layer Mask. Saving your ReMask 2 work this way allows all of your selections to be saved directly to the Layer Mask. That way there are no actual cuts made to your image and it can be removed. At this point your image will look like it did when you began, however your Layers Palette and your Channels Palette will reflect the changes that you have made. You can view your masked Bird layer by hiding the Layer 0 underneath it and the Branch layer above it. This will show you just the birds on a transparent background. The next part of the process is create a layer mask for your branch.
1. Add a Layer Mask to the new Branch layer. 2. Select the new Branch layer and click on the image thumbnail on that layer. 3. Go to Filter -> Topaz Labs and select ReMask 2.
4. Your image will already be filled with Green. Use the zoom and pan tools to focus in on the branch. 5. Using the blue brush tool, make a selection around the branch. You can zoom in closer and reduce the brush size to mark difficult areas. 6. Select the Red Fill tool and fill the outside of the blue outline to remove that portion of the image. 7. Under the compute section select the processing quality - Draft or High to process the tri-map.
8. View the selection in the various views: a. Mask View b. Keep View c. Cutout view 9. Make any necessary refinements using the Magic Brush Tool. Remember that the Red Brush will remove image details and the Green Brush will restore image details. 10. Make any desired refinements using the mask hardness slider under the compute section. 11. Click OK and save work back to Photoshop.
12. In your Layers Palette, you will notice that your mask has been saved back to your Layer Mask. At this point your image elements have been cutout and saved back to their Layer Masks. The next part of the process is to sharpen each element. This is also where you can make any additional desired color or effects enhancements to your layers. Using Topaz Detail we will be able to sharpen specific details in the two masked image elements. You can also use the Sharpening feature in Photoshop or in Topaz Vivacity. 1. In your Layers Palette, select the Birds layer. 2. Go to Filter -> Topaz Labs -> Detail
9. When Topaz Detail loads scroll through the presets on the left side of the interface until you find one that fits your desired detail sharpening level.
You can also make further adjustments manually using the sliders in the Details, Tone and Color tabs. Once you are happy with your settings click OK to save your image adjustments back to Photoshop.
11. In your Layers Palette, select the Birds layer. 12. Go to Filter -> Topaz Labs -> Detail

Again, you make further adjustments manually using the sliders in the Details, Tone and Color tabs.
Then click OK to save your selections back to Photoshop.
You can also add in a new background. To do this, you will need to already have your newly ReMasked image open. Then go to FIle -> Place. Select the new background image that you would like to add and then click Place. This will automatically add the new image into your open project file.
You can then go to your Layers Palette and see that your image has been added as a new layer. You can rearrange your layers to put the newly added background layer behind your masked layer.
ReMask 2 Selective Blurring (Bokeh)
Using ReMask 2 to isolate a non-essential background will allow you to apply a blur to that background - known as Bokeh. This technique will all you to keep your original image essence intact while emphasizing a focal point and de-emphasizing the background.
This effect can easily be achieved with 3 main steps: 1. Create a 2 duplicate layers of your image and name them. 2. Create your masks (using ReMask 2) on the new layers. 3. Use Photoshop to apply a Gaussian (or other type) Blur to the non-essential background elements.
Once you have your image elements separated you can also make additional detail and color enhancements to your focal point.
For this example we will be using this image of this newly wed couple sharing an apple.
1. Create 2 duplicate layers in Photoshop. Name one Apple and name the other Blur so that we can easily identify them later on. 2. Add a Layer Mask to the new Apple layer. 3. Select the new Apple layer and click on the image thumbnail on that layer. 4. Go to Filter -> Topaz Labs and select ReMask 2.
5. Your image will already be filled with Green. Use the zoom and pan tools to focus in on the apple. 6. Using the blue brush tool, make a selection round the apple. You can zoom in closer and reduce the brush size to mark difficult areas. 7. Select the Red Fill tool and fill the outside of the blue outline to remove that portion of the image. 8. Under the compute section select the processing quality - Draft or High to process the tri-map.
9. View the selection in the various views a. Mask View b. Keep View c. Cutout view 10. Make any necessary refinements using the Magic Brush Tool. Remember that the Red Brush will remove image details and the Green Brush will restore image details. 11. Make any desired refinements using the Mask Hardness slider under the compute section. 12. Click OK and save work back to Photoshop.

13. In your Layers Palette, you will notice that your mask has been saved back to your Layer Mask. You can view your masked Apple layer by hiding Layer 0 and the Blur layer underneath it. This will show you just the apple on a transparent background. The next part of the process is create a layer mask for your the background.
1. Add a Layer Mask to the new Blur layer. 2. Select the new Blur layer and click on the image thumbnail on that layer. 3. Go to Filter -> Topaz Labs and select ReMask 2.
4. Your image will already be filled with Green. Use the zoom and pan tools to focus in on the couple. 5. Using the blue brush tool, make a selection around the couple. You can zoom in closer and reduce the brush size to mark difficult areas. 6. Select the Red Fill tool and fill the inside of the blue outline to remove that portion of the image. 7. Under the compute section select the processing quality - Draft or High to process the tri-map.
12. In your Layers Palette, you will notice that your mask has been saved back to your Layer Mask. You can view your masked Blur layer by hiding the Layer 0 underneath it and the Apple layer above it. This will show you just the background building on a transparent background. Now that your image elements have been cutout and saved back to their Layer Masks in the Layers Palette, the next part of the process is to blur the background behind the couple.
Using Photoshops default filters we will apply a Gaussian blur to the Blur Layer. 1. In your Layers Palette, select the Blur layer. 2. CMD + Click (MAC) or Ctrl + Click (Windows) on the Layer Mask thumbnail to select the visible background elements.
3. Go to Filter -> Blur -> Gaussian Blur. and adjust the slider to your desired pixel radius and then select OK.
So now you have your final finished image with the Bokeh affect.
If you want to take your creativity to the next level you can do a variety of things like changing the color of the apple or desaturating the image. For this example we: 1. Adjusted the color of apple by selecting the Apple layer and then CMD + Click (MAC) or Ctrl + Click
(Windows) on the Layer Mask thumbnail to select the apple. Then went to Image -> Adjustments -> Hue / Saturation and increased the hue and the saturation to make the apple greener and more rich in color. 2. Converted the couple and the blurred background to Black & White. This was done in two steps: First by selecting Layer 0 and then going selecting the BW Contrasted preset in Topaz Detail. Second we repeated the process on the blurred background by selecting the Blur layer and then going to Topaz Detail and applying the BW Contrasted preset to this layer as well.
ReMask 2 Black & White with a Splash of Color

Using Topaz ReMask 2 to add a color focal point is a great way to spice up a crisp Black & White image. This technique can be done using 2 layers - one with your original image converted to Black & White and a second layer with your color element.
This effect can easily be achieved with 3 main steps: 1. Create a duplicate layer of your image and name it. 2. Create your mask (using ReMask 2) on the new layer. 3. Use Topaz Detail or Photoshops Black & White option to desaturate the bottom layer.
Once you have the two elements separated you can also make additional detail and color enhancements on your color layer to really make it pop. Using Topaz Adjust and Topaz Detail are ideal tools for this. We will explore this process in more detail on the following pages.
For this example we will be using this image of a bride holding her wedding bouquet.
1. Create a duplicate layer in Photoshop and name it. When we are finished, Layer 0 will be the Black & White element and the Flowers layer will be the color element with the bouquet. 2. Add a Layer Mask to the new Flowers layer. 3. Select the new Flower layer and click on the image thumbnail on that layer. 4. Go to Filter -> Topaz Labs and select ReMask 2.
5. You image will already be filled with Green. Use the zoom and pan tools to focus in on the bouquet. 6. Using the blue brush tool, make a selection around the bouquet. You can zoom in closer and reduce the brush size to mark difficult areas such as in between her fingers where bits of the bouquet peek out. 7. Select the Red Fill tool and fill the outside of the blue outline to remove that portion of the image. 8. Under the compute section select the processing quality - Draft or High to process the tri-map.
9. View the selection in the various views a. Mask View b. Keep View c. Cutout view
10. Make any necessary refinements using the Magic Brush Tool. Remember that the Red Brush will remove image details and the Green Brush will restore image details. 11. Make any desired refinements using the mask hardness slider under the compute section. 12. Click OK and save work back to Photoshop.

13. In your Layers Palette, you will notice that your mask has been saved back to your Layer Mask. Saving your ReMask 2 work this way allows all of your selections to be saved directly to the Layer Mask so that there are no actual cuts made to your image and it can be removed. At this point your image will look like it did when you began, however your Layers Palette and your Channels Palette will reflect the changes that you have made. You can view your masked Flower layer by hiding the Layer 0 underneath it. This will show you just the flowers on a transparent background. The next part of the process is to convert the background layer to Black & White. While there are many ways to convert to Black & White, for this project we will show you just two quick and simple ways to do Black & White conversion using Topaz Detail and Photoshops Black & White presets. 1. In your Layers Palette, select the Layer 0 layer. 2. Pick a conversion method and convert your image.
Using Topaz Detail to convert to Black & White is the quickest and easiest way. Go to FIlter -> Topaz Labs and select Detail. In the Presets on the left hand side of the interface, locate the BW Contrasted preset and select it. Your image will immediately be transformed into a crisp Black & White image. Use the Brightness and Contrast sliders in the Tone tab to perfect the Black & White look for your image then select OK.
Using Photoshops Black & White conversion tools is also a convenient option. Go to Image -> Adjustments -> Black & White. Once the Black & White Palette opens you can manually adjust the color levels or you can try out all of the included presets until you find the one that suits your image best. Make sure that the Preview option is checked so that you can see the changes being applied to your image. Once you are satisfied select OK.
Once your Black & White selections have been saved you will immediately notice that your Black & White with color splash effect is complete. From here you can go on to make additional adjustments and enhancements such as: - Adjusting the color in the bouquet - Adjusting the detail in the bouquet - Adjusting the detail in the brides dress To enhance the color and the detail in the bouquet we used a combination of Topaz Adjust and Topaz Detail. To adjust the detail in the brides dress we made a selection around the dress using Photoshops lasso tool and then used Topaz Detail on that selection. Also, feathering or blurring the edges of the bouquet can soften the transition of the two layers into each other.

Original

After with detail & color adjustments

ReMask 2 New Background

Using Topaz ReMask 2 to cutout an image element is great because you can then add in a new background, creating a whole new scene and vibe for your image. This technique can be done using 2 layers - one with your original cutout and the second one with your new image background. This effect can easily be achieved with 3 main steps: 1. Create a duplicate layer of your image and name it. 2. Create your mask (using ReMask 2) on the new layer. 3. Add in your new image background. Once you have your subjects cutout and the new background in place you can make additional detail and color enhancements to help the two images blend together better. Using Topaz Adjust and Topaz Detail are ideal tools for this. We will explore this process in more detail on the following pages.
For this example we will be using this image of these two football players tackling each other.
1. Create a duplicate layer in Photoshop and name it. 2. Add a Layer Mask to the new Players layer. 3. Select the new Players layer and click on the image thumbnail on that layer. 4. Go to Filter -> Topaz Labs and select ReMask 2.
5. You image will already be filled with Green. Use the zoom and pan tools to focus in on the players. 6. Using the blue brush tool, make a selection around the players. You can zoom in closer and reduce the brush size to mark difficult areas. 7. Select the Red Fill tool and fill the outside of the blue outline to remove that portion of the image. 8. Under the compute section select the processing quality - Draft or High to process the tri-map.
9. View the selection in the various views: a. Mask View b. Keep View c. Cutout view 10. Make any necessary refinements using the Magic Brush Tool. Remember that the Red Brush will remove image details and the Green Brush will restore image details. 11. Make any desired refinements using the mask hardness slider under the compute section. 12. Click OK and save work back to Photoshop.
13. In your Layers Palette, you will notice that your mask has been saved back to your Layer Mask.
You can view your masked Players layer by hiding the Original underneath it. The next part of the process is to add in the new background. To do this, you will need to already have your
newly ReMasked image open and then go to FIle -> Place. Select the new background image that you would like to add and then click Place.
You can then go to your Layers Palette to see that your image has been added as a new layer. You can rearrange your layers to put the newly added background layer behind your masked layer.

ReMask 2 Photo Collage

You can use Topaz ReMask 2 to cut out multiple images which can then be used to create a photo collage. This technique can be done using 2 or more layers - one with each photo cutout. This effect can easily be achieved with 3 main steps: 1. Open all your images in one project file. 2. Create your masks (using ReMask 2). 3. Resize, move and blend your images together.

Once you have the image elements separated you can also make additional detail and color enhancements on your color layer to really make it pop. Using Topaz Adjust and Topaz Detail are ideal tools for this. We will explore this process in more detail on the following pages.
For this example we will be using these three images to create our Photo Collage.
1. Create a new project in Photoshop by going to File -> New. Set the Background Contents to Transparent. 2. Go to File -> Place and add images to project. 3. Name each image in the Layers Palette so that we can easily identify them later on. 4. Add a Layer Mask to the new Bride layer. 5. Select the new Bride layer and click on the image thumbnail on that layer. 6. Go to Filter -> Topaz Labs and select ReMask 2.
7. You image will already be filled with Green. Use the zoom and pan tools to focus in on the bride. 8. Using the blue brush tool, make a selection round the bride. You can zoom in closer and reduce the brush size to mark difficult areas. 9. Select the Red Fill tool and fill the outside of the blue outline to remove that portion of the image. 10. Under the compute section select the processing quality - Draft or High to process the tri-map.
11. View the selection in the various views: a. Mask View b. Keep View c. Cutout view
12. Make any necessary refinements using the Magic Brush Tool. Remember that the Red Brush will remove image details and the Green Brush will restore image details. 13. Make any desired refinements using the mask hardness slider under the compute section. 14. Click OK and save work back to Photoshop.
13. In your Layers Palette, you will notice that your mask has been saved back to your Layer Mask. You can view your masked Bride layer by hiding both the Flower layer above it and the Pond underneath it. The next part of the process is to put the collage together by positioning the three layers into place. 1. Starting with the bottom Pond layer, select the Move tool and move it into the desired position. 2. With the Move tool still selected, position the Bride layer into the desired place. 3. Finally, move the Flower layer to the desired position. 4. While moving each layer into place you can also resize or rotate the image layers if desired. You can preform both of these tasks by going to Edit -> Transform or using shortcut keys: CMD + T (Mac) CTRL + T (Win)
Now that all of the pieces are together, it is time to blend them together. 1. Add a Layer Mask to the Pond layer. We are going to add a gradient to this layer to create a transition from it to the Flower layer. 2. Select the Photoshop Gradient tool (it shares the same space with the Bucket tool) and set the foreground color to black and the background color to white using the swatches palette. 3. Draw a small line horizontally from the edge of the flower to the grass of the pond image. Repeat as necessary to blend.

4. Select the Bride layer and use the blur tool around the edges of the bride to blur the hard edges around her.
And thats it. You now have your finished Photo Collage. You can go on from here and make any additional color or detail adjustments or add it additional image layers.
As you can see, ReMask 2 gives you the ultimate ability to control every aspect of color, detail and blending in your images. The quick yet efficient precision of ReMask 2 makes cutouts and extraction for the purpose of selective adjustments a cinch. You now know how to create these essential and basic selective adjustments: - - - Color adjustments Sharpening key features Selective Blurring (Bokeh) - - - Black & White with a splash of color Adding in new backgrounds Photo collage
Just keep in mind that these are only a few of the ways that you can use ReMask 2 to make selective adjustments, but the creativity and possibilities are endless. In addition to ReMask 2, you can also incorporate any of the other Topaz Photoshop bundle programs such as: Adjust, Detail, Simplify or Clean into your selective adjustment workflow in order to make quick and simple color and detail adjustments.