First Post - Layer Issues

[JohnM698]

Hi.
First post here, I've been using LR for a while, and would like to get better with Photoshop (24.10). Following some online tutorials, I decide to try to tinker with the photo you see below, which I took in Venice. What I want to do is to increase the exposure around the gondolas, whilst leaving the building behind, exposed as normal.



My process is as follows:

1. I right-click on the photo in LR and select 'Open as a Smart Object in Photoshop'.
2. I then click on new layer selector at the bottom, and choose to add an exposure layer.
3. Then I click on the little rectangle entitled 'add vector mask' and a mask is duly added
   At this point, this is where something strange happens, and I cannot explain it. The vector mask is selected, but if I click on it, it deselects, and I am absolutely unable to select it again. That's the first strange thing. Moving on...
4. Whilst the layer mask is selected, I adjust the exposure. But I only want the exposure adjustment to happen to the foreground, right? So, I then...
5. .. select a brush. With the brush, I ensure that the colour is black, that the brush is the right size etc., and I brush across the top. White reveals, black conceals, yes? So I want to 'conceal' the adjustment layer at the top, and leave the buildings as they are.
   Nothing happens. The picture stays the way it is. It doesn't change at all. I tried quitting Photoshop and then restarting it with COMMAND + SHIFT + OPTION held down, and deleting the preferences file. Then I redid the steps above. Nothing.

Any advice you could give, would be welcome. What am I doing wrong? Is a vector layer mask not the same as an adjustment layer mask? Is there anything else I'm doing wrong?

Thank you.

 

[IamSam]

Hello.

Don't add a "vector" mask.

Just use the layer mask on the adjustment layer. You may have to invert the layer mask by clicking/selecting the layer mask and hitting Cmd/Cntrl +I.
Then use a soft Brush (set to white) to add in the areas you wish to have a higher exposure.




Note about layer masks............

A white layer mask allows the layer it's on to be seen. Placing black on a white layer mask allows (reveals) the underlying layers to bleed through and to be seen.

A black layer mask allows the layer it's on to not be seen! Thereby, allowing any layer below it to be seen. Placing white on a black layer mask allows the underlying layers to be covered (conceals) up and not seen.

 

[JohnM698]

Hello.

Don't add a "vector" mask.

Just use the layer mask on the adjustment layer. You may have to invert the layer mask by clicking/selecting the layer mask and hitting Cmd/Cntrl +I.
Then use a soft Brush (set to white) to add in the areas you wish to have a higher exposure.

View attachment 134628
View attachment 134629

I'm confused. I closed everything and re-opened the image in PS. Then I chose new layer and made it an exposure layer. My screen looks like the following:



But when you say 'Just use the layer mask on the adjustment layer', there is no 'mask'. Or am I confusing masks and layers?

Actually, I just tried to paint over that layer and the paint tool did nothing.

There is either something wrong with my settings, or I am completely not getting it. Back to more YouTube videos ......

 

[JohnM698]

Hello.

Don't add a "vector" mask.

OK .. I think I understand!

So I don't need to add 'vector masks' if all I want to do is to change exposure on all or part of an image! My reasoning was that if I wanted to change the exposure on the gondolas (for example), I had to have a mask on top of the actual image, so that I could 'poke a hole' through it and limit change to one section.

Thank you. My photo now looks like the screenshot below. It's not a great photo to begin with. I just chose it as it was very dark, and I wanted to practice with masks etc.

Thank you again, you have helped enormously!