Topaz ReMask: Frequently Asked Questions
We've had lots of feedback, questions, and comments on Topaz ReMask, and we thank you for taking the time to write to us and submit examples. I thought I would post a few frequently asked questions (and their answers!) here on the blog.
One thing that I want to note: Topaz ReMask works in a very different way than other masking plug-ins, and plug-ins in general. For one, it doesn't have a user interface, so it's almost impossible to "feel" your way through the plug-in. I strongly urge you to at least get a basic idea of how the plug-in works by scanning the User's Manual or take a look at one of the short 3-4 minute video tutorials. They actually help quite a bit when starting out.
Now that that's out of the way, here are some of the more common questions we've gotten:
---
How do I refine my mask if it's not perfect?
If you've gotten a mask from ReMask and there's areas of the mask that you'd like to improve, it's easy to tell ReMask to re-process a part of the image with additional information. When processing, Topaz ReMask's thought process goes something like this:
1. I see white in the tri-map over certain image features. I now know that image features similar to these (in color, proximity, etc) are to be kept in the final mask.
2. I see black in the tri-map over certain image features. I now know that image features similar to these are to be removed in the final mask.
3. I see gray in the tri-map over certain image features. I must use the information from #1 and #2 to determine the correct mask for #3.
Keeping this in mind, it makes sense that sometimes ReMask may not have all the information it needs to correctly deduce the gray areas with 100% accuracy. This is where mask refining comes in. All this consists of is using the resulting mask that Topaz ReMask gave you first, as a tri-map for another pass of Topaz ReMask. The key is to give it a little bit more information this time.
As a very simple example, let's say you're masking an apple and, for whatever reason, the stem wasn't included in the mask even though you want it to be. You would first select the layer mask and paint white on some of the stem. You don't have to paint ALL of the stem, but you have to make sure you don't get any white on the background... or else ReMask will get really confused.
Then, you paint black on parts of the background around the stem. Finally, paint gray on the areas that you want ReMask to process (this time with added information). For the rest of the apple you don't have to do anything because ReMask already gave you a black and white mask, so you can just leave it like it is.
(Sometimes it's more appropriate to paint a thick gray over the entire stem and then paint black or white. It's up to the situation. The only important thing is to give ReMask more information via black and white areas so it can correctly deduce the gray areas.)
After that, you can either apply Topaz ReMask again to the whole image, or just a selection of the stem. This will refine the mask at the gray areas using the new information. You can repeat this process if necessary.
---
How do I fix a procEngine -1000 or -878 error?
This is a memory issue. Go to your Photoshop Preferences and take a look at the RAM section.
First, drop it to about 40%. Restart Photoshop and try ReMask again.
If that doesn't work, try increasing it to 85%. Restart Photoshop and try ReMask again.
If these don't work, we’re coming out with a memory management upgrade soon, which will almost certainly help with the problem. Also, try minimizing the gray areas in the tri-map; ReMask’s memory usage is directly proportional to the amount of gray area.
---
Why do I get a message that says "No Layer Mask Channel Found" or "'Make' command not available"?
For the first message, Topaz ReMask must be run on a layer with a layer mask containing black, white, and gray. If there's no layer mask, it will not run.
The second message only occurs when you use actions. If you do use actions, use nothing else - don't create a layer mask, etc. The action will do everything for you. The "Make" error happens when the action tries to create a layer mask when there is already a layer mask on the layer.
---
Let me know if there's any other questions that you want answered in the comments.
September 29th, 2009 - 07:34
Can I use Remask in Photoshop Elements 7?
September 29th, 2009 - 07:38
Hi Robin,
The current ReMask will only work in Photoshop because it requires Photoshop-specific layer masks. There will be a version in the future that will work with other hosts though. See more compatibility info here.
September 29th, 2009 - 11:19
I am having trouble figuring out how to set my brush to 50% Gray as your instructions say it should be. I keep coming up with Red. Even your video with the dog shows the brush as Red. Am I missing something? Does it have to be Gray or is Red Ok?
September 29th, 2009 - 12:27
Hi Joe,
Red is how the Quick Mask Mode displays different shades of gray. If you look at your foreground and background swatches in the bottom left corner, you’ll see that it actually shows gray for the foreground.
So yeah, red is okay in quick mask mode.
September 29th, 2009 - 13:50
Ok I understand Quick Mask Mode. And I see someone else asked this question yesterday. Now having problems with hair. It’s not looking anything like the dog in the video. I am not trying to use it on as complicated background as your dog, and I’m not getting anything like the dog. Hair is always a problem.
Second question: When you draw the quick mask line how much of an overlap should there be between what I want to capture and waht i don’t want to capture. How large should the bush be to accomplish a proper mask. In the dog video the bush looks fairly large.
September 29th, 2009 - 15:52
where do I find the user guide for topaz remask?
September 30th, 2009 - 08:12
Joe:
Generally, the more accurate you want your mask to be, the smaller the gray brush should be. This has the end result of increasing the amount of white and black, and thus increasing the amount of information ReMask has.
I’m going to do a tutorial that answers your first question today, so I’ll post again when that’s up.
John:
User’s Guide can be downloaded here.
October 8th, 2009 - 16:29
Hello!
I’m really impressed with how fast and well ReMask works!
I’d like to purchase it, but I just realized that it is not available for Elements 7 yet.
Any ideas as to when the release date will be? And, will you be notifying the people on your mailing list when it does come out?
Thank you!
Adama
October 8th, 2009 - 17:07
Will Topaz Remask ever be available for Photoshop Elements 5. I sure hope so. I have several of the Topaz programs and use them all with great satisfaction.
October 8th, 2009 - 19:05
Are there any programs besides Noise that are available for Elements?
October 8th, 2009 - 22:20
ReMask isn’t doing anything… I’m using the Action Set, building my Tri-Map without issue (I’m testing on simple shots), running the PROCESS action, hourglass appears for several seconds, and then… well, nothing. I check the Alpha Channel and the mask that is ‘created’ is nothing more than the one resulting from my crude masking done during the tri-map… no gradations at all, simply jagged transitions from black to white, so again, it seems as if all the processing was for naught. Any ideas about what to change (I moved RAM to 40% and restarted and got same behavior). Using Windows XP 4GB RAM, Photoshop CS4 (v11.0).
Any assistance would be sincerely appreciated.
October 9th, 2009 - 05:51
I am running xp with 4 GB ram. I have adjusted the memory, but no matter WHAT I DO I GET THE PROCENG -1000 STATEMENT. suggestions????
October 9th, 2009 - 08:02
Darryl and Adama:
There will be a masking software available with a user interface that can be accessed from Photoshop Elements. We’ll send out another mailing when it is available.
Chris:
All of our Photoshop products work for Elements except ReMask.
Rich:
I’ve never heard of this problem before. Can you make sure that you have the correct layer selected instead of possibly another one before you run the process action? Also, maybe try one without the actions set first to see if you get the same results.
Steve:
We’re coming out with a memory management upgrade soon, which will almost certainly help with that. Also, try minimizing the gray areas in the tri-map; ReMask’s memory usage is directly proportional to the amount of gray area.
October 9th, 2009 - 08:53
I use many of the Topaz CS4 plug-ins (on a Vista-SP3 system with 4gb memory) and love them; so, it is very frustrating that I cannot get Re-Mask to work. I’ve had every problem mentioned in the FAQs and this forum–including the listed memory problems– fixed each one and had a new one pop up. The latest simply says Re-Mask “can’t load the tilermask01.dll” I know you’re planning a RE-Mask revison to include a user interface, but will this solve the errors that keep popping up.
Help, please.
Jim
October 9th, 2009 - 10:11
My recent purchase was for ReMask and in your tutorial you address ReMask 2. Is that an upgrade that will be made available?
October 9th, 2009 - 18:48
Eric,
I’m reporting back (I commented that it was doing nothing more than selecting the inside edge of the gray line as the mask – in effect doing nothing, or at least nothing of significance).
I figured out that I need to make my gray lines narrower. When I did so, I started to get much, much better results (the plugin ran longer, in the neighborhood of 60-90 seconds instead of 10-20 when I was getting rather poor masks).
So, moral of the story is that I (and I guess others) do need to take a bit more care in the transition area…
All that said, I am suitably impressed at the quality of the masks that result. Suspect I will be purchasing soon.
Keep up the amazing work (Topaz Labs has rocketed up to a top three status in the Plugins World along side OnOne & Nik and ahead of Alien Skin given the value, as well as the constancy of new & interesting plugins)…
–Rich
October 12th, 2009 - 11:03
I would be interested in Re-Mask if it can catch details such as separating trees from its background. I find one of the most difficult tasks is selecting out trees and the many segments created by trees in order to enhance the background areas. Will your program be able to select out difficult or rough edged objects?
October 13th, 2009 - 09:15
Jim, sorry to hear about the problems. The new user interface should solve most of the errors when it does come out (as it is *technically* a completely separate application). For the can’t load dll error, try removing everything that has to do with ReMask from your Photoshop plug-ins folder and then just re-install ReMask. Should work then.
Gayne, the ReMask that you have and the ones in the tutorial are the same. I don’t remember when I addressed “ReMask 2″ but if I did it was a mistake =) ReMask 2 isn’t going to be here for a while…
Rich – glad to hear it and thanks for the nice comments.
Michael, ReMask can do that very well. Before you try it on your picture, I’d definitely see the last video listed here, though: Compilation of Topaz ReMask Resources. It should help quite a bit with creating the more complex masks.
November 4th, 2009 - 17:06
1-I downloaded a 30 trial and license for Remask then decided to purchase it a few days later. How do I put in my new license number.
2- I’m trying to learn Remask but I can’t seem to get past a certain area. When I do the trimask then click on process then play, I get a message that it is not available at this time. Please help, I would really like to use this software. I have viewed your videos, it all looks so easy and I have read the users manual and followed step by step. Thanks in advance for any help that you can give me. Dee
November 4th, 2009 - 17:29
Hi Dee:
1) Just wait till it asks you for your license key.
2) Make sure that the trimap exists on the layer mask for the image, and that you have that layer selected. If not, it will commonly return that error.
Hope that helps!