Using Topaz ReMask – Actions or Not?
Posted on 26. Sep, 2009 by Eric Yang in Tips, Tricks & Tutorials
We’ve been pretty quiet on Twitter and the blog lately, but that’s because we were busy preparing a new product that we just released today called Topaz ReMask. Thanks for the very positive reaction!
There are a few commonly asked questions so far that I wanted to clear up. ReMask is definitely a little bit different as plug-ins go (mainly because it doesn’t have a user interface) but as soon as you get the hang of it it gets much easier and faster.
First, you don’t actually need to use the actions to run the software. The actions can speed up the process and make it easier on you, but they’re not required. The Topaz ReMask workflow with actions looks like this:
1. Open image and select layer.
2. Run “Before Masking” action.
3. Immediately brush gray for areas you want ReMask to process, white for areas you want to keep, and black for areas you want to remove.
4. Run “Process” action.
5. If refinement’s necessary, run the “Refine Mask” action and then run “Process” after you’re done refining.
That’s the ReMask workflow with actions – it’s simple and without too much fiddling around with layers and different views. Now, the actions won’t work if you’ve already completed some of the steps by yourself. For example, if you’ve already created a layer mask and you run the Before Masking action, you’ll get an error that says the “Make” command is not available. This is because it can’t make a layer mask on a layer that already has one.
By the way, the actions location was incorrect in the Quick Start video. Here are the actual locations:
Mac: HD->Library->Application Support->Topaz Labs->Topaz ReMask->Actions
Windows: C:\Program Files\Topaz Labs\Topaz ReMask\Actions
Or just download the actions here.
But it’s perfectly possible to use ReMask to great effect without using actions – there’s just a couple more things to keep in mind. Basically, ReMask requires the following condition to run:
You must have a layer selected with a layer mask containing white, gray, and black. The layer itself must be selected (not the layer mask).
Under the above condition, Topaz ReMask works completely fine by itself without the help of actions. After playing around with it for a bit, though, I find that using the actions greatly sped up my masking process. (For example, did you know that I actually did time trials and practiced my masking speed before making this video? Turned out that actions shaved off at least a couple of seconds from my record…)
But it’s up to you whether you want to use the actions or not. If you want to learn a bit more about exactly how ReMask works and our recommended workflows, please check out the Quick Start and How ReMask Works tutorials in the ReMask tutorials section.
Thanks! Feel free to pose any ReMask questions here.
49 Responses to “Using Topaz ReMask – Actions or Not?”
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27. Sep, 2009
[...] Re: Topaz Remask problem using Look here: http://www.topazlabs.com/blog/using-…1/#comment-874 [...]
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26. Sep, 2009
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Eric Yang. Eric Yang said: If you have questions about Topaz ReMask and its actions or workflow, see this blog post: http://is.gd/3HPzF [...]
Michael Stern
02. Nov, 2011
How do I uninstall Remask? I do not own it .
janet
10. Nov, 2009
Hi,
I have the trial version and am working on one image. It’s of a woman with hair (of course) and I have been following the instructions and I just can’t get a good mask to work. Can I send you the photo and see if you can get it to work? the woman is wearing a black suit and the edge is very blotchy and the hair is just not working. This is the type of work I am going to need to work on and this would be the perfect reason for me to buy the full version.
Can you help me? Email me and I will send you the image. Help! client is waiting. It is for a website.
Janet
Eric
28. Oct, 2009
Hi all, thanks for the comments.
Erik – that’s an excellent idea. How did you get it to record 50% gray at the end of the action? I tried but I could not get it to – maybe I was doing it wrong!
Diane, sorry you’re having trouble with the software. Did you email us at support[at]topazlabs.com or contact us with this form? Also, please allow us about 1 business day to reply. Thanks!
Diane and John – the procEngine -1000 has to do with memory. We’re coming out with an update that will address this issue. In the meantime, this knowledge base article should help: procEngine -1000.
John Scalzo
25. Oct, 2009
Hi Diane, Topaz is actually very good at supporting their products. I too have the problem code “error 1000. The action did work once but after that I just keep getting the error message. Worked like a charm the first time. I think I’ll wait till I buy this product until this error gets worked out. BTW, I own all of the other products and they usually work great. Mike, help us out.
Diàne Horsfall
25. Oct, 2009
I have emailed Topaz regarding the fact that firstly the image cuts out like a pair of scissors and secondly I then get the error message described by many others. I have done everything as decribed in the videos both manually and via the actions. TOPAZ HAVE NOT BOTHERED TO REPLY!!! I was going to purchase it but frankly, right now, I am not impressed with Topaz and, if this is a taste of their customer service, they will never get my custom!!!!
erik hoffman
24. Oct, 2009
sorry made a mistake with my email
hoffmanportraits@live.com
erik hoffman
24. Oct, 2009
I have added (missed in the “actions) in the ‘Before Masking’ just at the end of it to choose a grey brush, so it is automatically ready for painting.
Go to the actions called Before Masking and record at the end of it BRUSH 50% GREY and stop recording
I also added a new ACTION called default colour pallets, so one can get the black and white quickly.
Anyone who wants the revised ACTIONS email me and I will send them to you
Works a treat
hoffmaportraits@live.com
Eric
21. Oct, 2009
Hi Mark,
Try doing it without actions and see if that works. Also, make sure your image is 16- or 8-bit in RGB mode only. Also, make sure that your actual layer is selected rather than the layer mask (or else it will give you this error message).
mark
15. Oct, 2009
this is driving me insane. what am i doing wrong, it keeps saying “the command topaz remask is not currently available”
i think i followed the directions correctly. please help, this thing cost $70.
——-
mac os 10.6.1 with photoshop cs4
Eric
13. Oct, 2009
Yep, just try using a smaller gray brush. The thing is, the gray area tells ReMask where to process, so if there is less gray areas then ReMask will need to process less, and therefore use less memory.
Lilly StC
13. Oct, 2009
What do you mean by minimising the grey areas Eric …. do I just make sure my brush is smaller ? I did use a medium sized brush so I can have a go at that in the meantime … thanks for looking into the problem – your demo video looks great and I do a lot of extracting !
Eric
13. Oct, 2009
For the procEngine errors:
Photoshop RAM settings in the Preferences. 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.
Lilly StC
13. Oct, 2009
I’m getting the procError – 1000 too – when I process right at the end … I have changed the settings to 85 and 40 and restarted but no luck on either … shame it looks a great package
William L. (Frank) Collons
12. Oct, 2009
Neither of the solutions you suggest helped…still getting the procError -1000…
Roy
08. Oct, 2009
Just tried to use the PENCIL tool instead of the brush and got the same proc error 1000 message. Should we be expecting a fix soon Eric?
mark
08. Oct, 2009
same here, use PENCIL. 100% opacity. proc error 1000 appears when you use the brush, but I dont get it with the pencil tool.
Robert
07. Oct, 2009
Hi!
I am getting the “-1000 Error” only when I used the brush instead of the pencil for masking.
I hope that may help someone.
Wes Bigger
06. Oct, 2009
When I attempt to process the mask, I get the following error message…
procEngine error code 1000
Dave Phillips
05. Oct, 2009
Thanks Eric……my error was that quick mask was not set
to the ruby color and I was only getting the gray, hard to see at times. All is well now.
The Best Practices video is awesome and verrrrrrry easy to follow. Thanks for that too
Dave
Eric
05. Oct, 2009
Hi Dave,
The action should jump into quick mask mode – make sure that after you run the action you don’t click anywhere else except to change the brush color to gray.
If that fails, you can just press the \ key to switch right into quick mask mode when you have your layer mask selected.
Dave Phillips
04. Oct, 2009
Hi Eric…..my action set PC/XP CS2 for ReMask never actually enters quick mask mode. I can only paint the mask with \literal\ 50% gray.
What’s my problem?
Thanks much
Eric
30. Sep, 2009
Curtis, to add in a new background, just bring a background layer underneath your layer with the mask on it. The background will automatically show through.
For example, the masked burger was put on the plates like this:
1. ReMask on a fiery burger photo to cut out the burger from the fire.
2. Copied and pasted a photo of some plates into the same document as the burger.
3. Put the plates layer immediately underneath the masked burger layer.
4. Adjusted the burger a bit to make it fit with the plate.
Curtis Izen
29. Sep, 2009
Wonderful program – but once you have mask completed, the manual says you can now add it in a new background. Can someone let me know how the mask (ie. the burger) gets put on the plates? (steps).
thanks!
Eric
29. Sep, 2009
Applications Support should be in HD->Library for Mac. Make sure you’re not going into your User->Library… it has to be the system volume library. So basically click on the hard drive on your desktop that says Macintosh HD and then select Library and Application Support.
The link works for me… maybe try it from another browser.
warne noyce
29. Sep, 2009
I’ve tried the download actions link! It doesn’t work. I’ve tried to find the actions with the new location. I don’t have an application support folder! I’m getting kinda frustrated. Please help me get the actions? Thank you!
Eric
28. Sep, 2009
Hi Lisa,
The action makes you go into Quick Mask mode, where it paints in red for you to see more clearly. If you want, you can alt-click on the layer mask in the layer panel until it shows the black, white, and gray, but it might not be as easy to work with like that.
In Quick Mask mode, black will show up as dark red and gray will show up as light red. White will be completely clear.
Lisa Lukas
28. Sep, 2009
I downloaded the remask and the actions…but when I run the action it says to paint with gray then fill in with white and then black..but when I paint only red shows up. I don’t see anywhere in my layers where I have the option to choose gray or white ir back. Thanks.
Eric
28. Sep, 2009
Sure is, Bill, there’s one included in the installation, or you can download it here.
Bill French
28. Sep, 2009
Just purchased ReMask, is there a more comprehensive user guide other than the quick start? Thank you.
Eric
28. Sep, 2009
There’s a couple of issues I can see that may be happening, Ray.
First, the “white” has to be absolute white. Even the slightest hint of gray will cause it to think it’s gray.
Second, make sure that you’re selecting the layer that your layer mask is on to apply the filter. If you have a layer mask with white, black, and gray and you have that layer selected, Topaz ReMask should work without issue.
User’s guide is in the installation but can also be downloaded here.
Ray
28. Sep, 2009
I am slowly getting to terms with each stage but have now hit another block. After using the fill white and black I get the message “Could not complete remask command because layer mask does not hav enough keep (white) value Refer to user guide” The area i fill with white is quite large, and I do not know where to find the user guide please can you help?
Eric
28. Sep, 2009
If you’re getting the procengine -1000 memory error, try adjusting your memory to two settings:
1. 40%. Restart and see if it works.
2. 85%. Restart and see if it works.
One of those should work if you have sufficient memory. I’ll see if we can do anything about it on our end.
Darlene
28. Sep, 2009
Adjusting the photoshop ram did not help me this time either.
Robert Ring
28. Sep, 2009
This error msg is a real drag. Am getting this on Adjust & real mask. Using 120mb files even at 8bit to no avail.
Martin
27. Sep, 2009
I also received the error message “procEngine:errorcode:-1000″.
Increasing the Photoshop RAM to 85% HAS eliminated the problem in my case. I am running Photoshop CS2 on Windows Vista.
Darlene
27. Sep, 2009
I too get the procEngine:errorcode:-1000 I have adjusted my photoshop memory for other Topaz products I have on my computer so will try this and hope my others still work. Thanks.
Eric
27. Sep, 2009
Tim, I’ll do a tutorial on one of those Monday. TY for the links.
Eric
27. Sep, 2009
@DFranky: try the alt link next to the main download link. I am trying my best to fix the main link.
@Ray: The Windows license key will work just as well for the Mac version, you’ll just have to dl the Mac version from the Downloads page.
The extended masking tool will not be like Fusion – it’s actually going to be a masking tool in its own right and will include some sort of user interface. There will be a Windows and Mac version.
@Louise: It looks like a memory problem. support[at]topazlabs.com would be better at handling this type of thing than me, but to start, try first reducing your Photoshop RAM in the Photoshop Preferences to about 60%. If that doesn’t work, try increasing to 85%. (Restart Photoshop after each try.)
Tim R
27. Sep, 2009
Something like these seem to be the kind of photos used in masking tutorials:
http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-4205422-black-woman-portrait.php
http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-7936392-flower-fashion-beauty.php
Thank you!
Louise
27. Sep, 2009
I keep getting procEngine:errorcode:-1000 .
I’m running CS4 on a Windows XP machine.
Ray
27. Sep, 2009
I purchased this based on the video and pictures on your site as well as the discount. I, unfortunately did not read all the information and now see it can only be used in Photoshop. Fortunately, I do have PS CS3 on my MAC but not the PC. You do say \we are working on developing an extended masking tool\ that will work on the other supported programs. Will this be free similar to Express and will there be a Windows version?
DFranky
27. Sep, 2009
Hi!
Topaz Remask download error:(
http://download801.mediafire.com/sznd13ppedig/m24wvy3nz2q/topazremask100.dmg
Not URL
Sharon
26. Sep, 2009
Thanks for the tips. They helped a lot. It is easy to use with the actions. I gave it some pretty hard photos to work on and the results so far have varied especially with hair. The refine action helped a lot. I am looking forward to using this more.
Eric
26. Sep, 2009
Flyaway hair is often tricky. I don’t have any examples on hand, but if you link to a particular image that you had in mind, I’ll give it a go. (Might even make a blog post out of it)
Tim R
26. Sep, 2009
It seems that some of the samples (esp. the palm tree) dig too deeply into the thinner branches. Are you finding this to be the case? Do you have any samples with a good bit of fly away hair?
Eric
26. Sep, 2009
Roger, try navigating to HD->Library->Application Support->Topaz Labs->Actions – it should be there. If not, there’s going to be a link to download the action by itself from the website soon.
Roger
26. Sep, 2009
Is the ReMask action included with the 30 trial version? If so, I’m not able to load it. Tried installing 3 times – no luck. PSC4 does have ReMask plugin filter and I can use manually just fine. I’m running OSX Snow Leopard.