STEP SIX: Click on the original
stock layer again in the Layers
panel to make it the active layer.
Go to Image>Adjustments>
Levels, pull the left shadows
slider over to about the 60 mark,
and click OK. This will darken
the foreground trees and make
them stand out more against
the mist behind them.STEP SEVEN: With the top layer
active, Shift-click the forest
layer beneath it so they’re
both selected in the Layers
panel. Press Command-G
(PC: Ctrl-G) to group the
layers together, double-click
the name of the group, and
rename it “Forest Group.”
Open the Paths panel
(Window>Paths) and click on
the Work Path that’s already
embedded in the download
image; otherwise, you can
create your own path using
the Pen tool (P). The bottom
of this path follows the front
rim of the coffee cup. Go to
Layer>Vector Mask>Current
Path to use the path as a mask
for the Forest group. It should
now appear as if the trees are
completely inside the cup. In
the Properties panel (Win-
dow>Properties), increase the
Vector Mask’s Feather setting
to 1.7 px to slightly soften the
mask edge. PHOTOSHOP DOWN & DIRTY TRICKS
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