layer to mask

I know I have seen it somewhere before, but for the life of me I can not find the information again.

I would like to take a layer (such as a depth screen cap) and make IT the layer mask on a seperate layer.

Using PS CS3.
If anyone knows where to find that information, I would greatly appreciate it!

TIA
Tucor Cap

1. Activate the layer you want to copy, hit select all, and then copy.

2. On the layer you want to mask, create a new mask, if you haven't already.

3. Alt-click on the mask's thumbnail to show the mask on the canvas.

4. Now simply hit paste to put the clipboard contents onto the mask, and then alt-click the mask thumbnail again to return to normal view.

That's it. Should take you 5 seconds, tops. Enjoy.

Thank you very much!
I didnt figure it was too dificult to pull off!
It worked perfectly!

Ctrl + click the channel in the Channels palette. This will load it as a selection. Add it as a Layer Mask.

What I usually do is copy the channel in the Channels palette by dragging it to the New Channel button. Then Ctrl + click from there. This way I have it in the Channels palette and ready to go for more work instead of having to hunt through the Layers palette again.

Alt + click layer mask thumbnail is an awesome tip. This is the only way I know of to directly cut-n-paste into an existing layer mask. I also use it primarily to hunt down rogue areas of a layer mask.

Another awesome tip is ChOps on the fly in the Channels palette. Ctrl + click to load as a selection, then ctrl + alt + shift in various combinations to combine in various different ways with other Channels.

Once you have a Layer Mask, it will show up in the Channels palette while its layer is activite. Same for the mask portion of Adjustment Layers. Drag-n-drop to New Channel for safe keeping and other work.

I use the Channels palette a lot.

Gotta love Photoshop because there so many different ways of doing things.