Mask adjustment panel

Got the same error mess again when I posted this:

user warning: Unknown column 'path' in 'where clause' query: SELECT rid FROM path_redirect WHERE path = 'content/mask-adjustment-panel' LIMIT 0, 1 in /home/ceciljac/public_html/3photoshop/sites/all/modules/pathauto/pathauto.inc on line 74.

I am a trained computer professional (HNC (with Distinction) & HND) who taught programming, among other subjects, for many years. If you need any assistance I would be happy to look over your code and suggest a possible solution. After all it might be one way to contribute to the site.

Thanks again for all your hard work.

Hi Chawil,

Thanks for the heads up on the error message, I thought I'd fixed it but apparently not. I've looked at it again and found an incompatability between two modules, Path Auto and Path Redirect. I've rolled Path Redirect back to a previous release as suggested on the module help page and things seem to be working properly again. Thanks for your offer of assistance too, I'll certainly keep that in mind for the future :o). You sound like a well qualified web developer and programmer!

I'm still not convinced by the masks panel, for me (a long time user of Photoshop) it doesn't really add anything additional to the masking workflow, except maybe for having most of the tools I need in the same place. In saying that, Basic Masks seems to be winning out on the 3photoshop poll and if it does I'll be sure to incorporate it into the videos.

The Quick Selection Tool isn't one of my favourites either. It's a very automated tool so is good for beginners but its lack of options (which is intentionally the advantage of it) leaves most selections hard to accurately create. In saying that, it's a great tool for anyone who's new to Photoshop. On the other side, the big Extract Filter has recently been removed from Photoshop CS4 but still remains a big player in Photoshop Elements, I covered it in reletive detail in Part 7 of my Beginner's Guide to Photoshop Elements.

Thanks for the suggestions Chawil, I appreciate your input.

This is still available in CS4 as a download from Adobe. I know because I downloaded it.

http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=4048

Which also includes the following:

• Bigger Tiles
• Picture Package (ContactSheetII)
• ExtractPlus (improved Extract filter)
• PatternMaker
• PhotomergeUI
• Web Photo Gallery (WebContactSheetII) plus presets
• script for Layer Comps to Web Photo Gallery
• Texture presets for Texturizer

Also apparently available on the CS4 DVD in the 'Extras' folder.

I was under the impression that the Quick Selection and Background Eraser tools were replacements and worked better. I haven't actually used the Quick Selection tool yet so I can't say how well it works but the tutorials I've seen make it look very good, particularly the fact that it'learns' as you use it. Of course it will never replace the Magnetic Lasso (thanks for your detailed tutorial on its use) and the Pen/Paths tool. Pen/Paths - now there's a subject! The most awkward operation in PhotoShop by long chalk. All those handles and bending and tweaking and Alt-Backspace tricks - sounds like another tutorial suggestion maybe...

Yes Extract is still available, but when Adobe drops stuff from the application and includes it as an optional extra it's usually the kiss of death! There's certainly many ways to make selections these days, although I understand that Refine Edge is another reason why Extract is slowly fading away. It's not a direct replacement but it's getting to the point where these other tools offer more flexibility and basically work better.

Ah the Pen Tool, Photoshop's number one challenge. It's worth the pain though!