Paint Shop Pro Tutorial "Rain Mask"

	This is a simple mask tutorial demonstrating a rain effect. First we'll build the mask and then apply it to an image. To start: open an original image that you'd like to add rain to. I picked this nice lightning strike. Insure the image's color depth is 16 million colors.
	Now, we'll need a mask. Start by opening a new image with background color set to black and color depth set to 256 greys. It's size needs to be at least twice as big as your original image (in our case 480 x 480) so that we'll have enough rain to crop out later.. Shown here, the image is zoomed out by 2. Set foreground color to white (R=255, G=255, B=255), we'll be painting with it later. Now add noise to build some rain drops: Click "image" then "special filters" then "add noise". On the "add noise" window, select "random" and 40% noise. Click OK.
	Next we'll give the rain drops motion by adding wind: Click "image" then "deformations" then "wind". On the "wind" window, select any direction (doesn't matter in this case, left or right) and set "strength" to 10. Click OK.
	Now you'll rotate for the falling rain effect. Click "image" then "rotate". Select "free" and enter some number of degrees. I used 45 degrees. Again, direction really doesn't matter. I used left. Click OK. Next we'll crop out a piece to match the size of the original image that we're applying rain to (in this case 240x240). To do this : Click the "selection tool" and set it's "tolerance" to zero. Change it's shape to either "square" for a square original image (like mine) or "rectangle" for everything else. Getting inside the diamond shaped rain, left click and hold and drag until your selection is the same size as your original image. Shown here looks small but it's zoomed out by three.
	Copy this selection to the clipboard: Click "edit" then "copy" or [ctrl C]. Then paste as a new image: Click "edit" then "paste" then "as new image" or [ctrl V]. This is the image that will make the mask. It is not necessary to save your mask but for this tutorial we wish to demonstrate "loading a mask". To save a mask: Insure the mask image is highlighted (blue frame). Click "mask" then "new" then "from image". On the mask window, "source" should be "this window". Insure "source luminance" is checked and "invert mask" is not. Click OK. Then click "mask" then "save". Name it what ever you like. Click here to download our masks.
	Final step is to apply the mask: Click on your original image (make it blue framed). From the top line menu, click "masks" then "load". Find the mask you just saved (rain.msk in my case) and double click it or "open" it. You will not see anything yet unless you elect to view the mask (not necessary). To make the mask work we must paint it. With your foreground color set to white, paint (flood fill) anywhere on your original. You "MUST" set paint tolerance to 200. I say again: You must set your tolerance when painting to it's maximum (200) for the mask to have it's best effect. Enjoy!