(Changed in Phatch 0.2)
With this action you can turn your image into a text or give it a new shape or custom borders. You can combine it with a Shadow action afterwards for a nice result.
Use the preview window (new in 0.2) to quickly select a mask. In the preview window, simply click on the desired mask.
Important: In the save action, you need to choose save as "png" or "tiff" as most other file types do not support transparency.
Options
Mask
The mask should be a grayscale image which defines the new shape of the image. Where the mask is white the pixels of the image will be preserved and where the mask is black the pixels of the image will become completely transparent. All grayscales in between will become semi-transparent.
Resample Mask
This option describes the method how the image should be scaled to the image size. You can read more about scaling methods at the Scale action.
Library
You can also add your custom made masks to Phatch. To do this go to Tools -> Browse Library -> User, the user folder of Phatch will open now. Put the desired masks into the mask folder. Now open the mask preview window and your new masks have been added.
Example Masks
These are some masks I quickly created in Gimp. You can see their effect on the image at the right. Instructions for using them with Phatch:
- Click (not right-click) on the thumbnails to open the image full size.
- Save these masks on your computer.
- Insert the path of the saved mask in the Mask parameter of the Mask action in Phatch.
Round
Cut out your images with a round shape.
Edges
Get rid of the rectangular edges.
Gradients
Easy to create reflections, for example by flipping your image vertically with the Transpose action and afterwards applying a mask with the first gradient below:
Online Mask Sources
Gimp Mask Brushes
- 5 mask brushes. GBRs for Gimp and an image pack by Sarah-Dipity
- Download [damnicons_masks2.zip zip file], which includes 5 beautiful masks already besides the brushes
- http://sarah-dipity.deviantart.com/art/More-Mask-Brushes-33205116
Graphicssoft
- This library has one of the most interesting collections of masks. You will get the best result if you rotate the mask first according to the orientation of the images:
- http://graphicssoft.about.com/library/free/frames/n_edge001.htm
Taking the Mystery Out of Masks
- From this site you only need the masks for Phatch, not the tutorial.
- Download masks (heart shape, round, square, …): http://www.eastofthesun.com/images/masks.zip
- http://www.eastofthesun.com/pi5/masks.htm
- Look for grayscale images based on the word "mask": http://images.google.nl/images?imgc=gray&as_st=y&svnum=10&um=1&q=mask
Combining with other actions
Colorize
Combined with Colorize you really get that vintage look:
