I'm in Elements 3 also and did all this in Elements. If you want to do it exactly like I have shown in the pic, you need one of the add-in tools to create a mask, either Shipley's tools or Richard Lynch's Hidden Power tools (see below).

There is a way to make the mask in Elements 3 without those tools. You can check out these other postings that illustrate how to use adjustment layers + grouping to make a mask or I'll have to illustrate it more later tonight when I have more time. Here are some other threads on the subject of masking in Elements 3:

Creating masks using adjustment layers + grouping:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1006&message=11349130
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1006&message=10853357
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1006&message=10859864

Third party tools to enable regular Photoshop masks:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1006&message=12087022
http://member.melbpc.org.au/~pshipley/
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1006&message=11357869

This Hidden Power tools are available only by buying this book (in local bookstores or from Amazon):
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0782143857/qid=1107380949/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-2919342-3344722?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

If you want to do it in plain Elements without installing one of these third party tools to enable masks and you can't figure that out from some of the above reading, let me know and I'll give you a more detail explanation and picture tonight when I have more time.

--John


thistle2546 wrote:
> jfriend00 wrote:
>
> >
> > I duplicated the image four times with each layer set to the
> > multiply blend mode. Then, I added a mask to the first duplicate
> > and grouped all the other layers under that one (so that they all
> > inherit the same mask). I inverted the mask to black and then
> > painted in white on the mask with a soft brush and 15% opacity to
> > slowly reveal the center from the multiplied layers.
>
> Mr. Friend00: I have managed the fix at the top of the pic but I'm
> hung up
> at "Then, I added a mask to the first duplicate and grouped all the
> other layers
> under that one (so they will inherit the same mask). I inverted the
> mask to black..."
> right there, you lose me. How do I invert the mask to black? (I'm
> in Elements 3)
> Henry