Photoshop Script: Unmask
I recently discovered in Photoshop there is alpha information in stored in the layers that you don’t have full access to. This script will give you read-write access to it and make it easier to edit the underlaying image. This tool really only does one niche thing, but since nothing else replicates what it does it could prove to be useful once in a while.
When you apply a layer mask to a layer or an opacity it appears like the masked info dissapears and is erased, because you can’t bring it back. It is in fact not gone. The layer contains alpha information that you can only add to. My script writes over this alpha data to bring back the original image and includes the old alpha data in a new layer mask.
This is also works on file formats that do not contain a separate alpha channel but have alpha data, like PNG. This makes editing semi-transparent images a breeze.
Now for an example:
This is a highlight state for a button that is 30% transparent. If you need to edit this without the original files it will be quite difficult. You can’t be certain of the colors because you don’t know if they are lighter colors or if thats the transparency effecting it, so editing it will probably mean starting over.
If you apply Unmask to it..
It moves the alpha info into a layer mask. It will only appear to have added a layer mask because it does not change anything only rearranges it. If you disable the layer mask you will get the full opacity original image! this makes editing transparent images so much easier! Now you can edit the image, and even change the alpha information!
Unmask will not always be able to bring back the hidden information. If you make a selection and hit delete, Unmask may only bring back part of the image. When you hit delete PS overwrites the image with white and adds the selection to the alpha info (so it looks like a hole). So if you delete, Unmask may only bring back parts of the image and may contain white spots. Unmask works best on applied masks and transparencies.
Download
(Unmask.zip 111 KB)
Requirements:
Unmask by Mikeal Simburger is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
Passion Fruit Games
Some friends of mine have been working on a new project over at Passion Fruit Games. They are getting ready to release a new game!! Its based on a romance novel by best-selling author Marjorie M. Liu. This is the same group that made Nancy Drew Dossier: Resorting to Danger! and was called the “Best hidden object game of 2009″ (yahoo games)
Yes I know it was made by a different company… Passion Fruit Games split off from HER Interactive to make and produce their own games. Hopefully they will be making some pretty exciting stuff. I’m looking forward to it!
Star Trek TOS -Iron on Insignia (Engineering)
I made this as a printable iron on badge as apart of my Halloween costume. Curiously I could find no other similar art, or really even high res images of the badge.
This particular badge is for Engineering/ Security (red shirts). more info on insignias here.
so here you go, right click save as.
Please do not reproduce for commercial purposes. see license below.
printable_trek_badge by Mikeal Simburger is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
Challenge- Future Weapon
Continuing to work on the melee challenge. This still needs more details, but definitely the way I want to go. Added two Tesla coils, I thought having two or three would be a unique arrangement. not so. After some research I found out there are devices far more powerful the Tesla coils, Pelletrons although they are much less exciting looking as its large industrial equipment.
Some of the bigger generators of any variety can hurt someone. Not with the smaller ones, size matters. So these need to look much more futuristic to escape that fact. You know, defying physics and all.
Challenge- Future Weapon
Requirements: Futureistic Melee weapon, non projectile
Challenger: Yael Maritz
Edit: after some thinking, I’m going to replace the bug zapper but with a Tesla coil or some arrangement of the kind.
idea:
An electrically charged staff weapon, with basically a bug zapper at the end. I like the stylization of old gas light poles, the handle part will take be based on them. yes it will glow.
Preliminary idea, its terrible really, I need to work on it.
