help - layer masks in photoshop

[Barracuda]

Hi this is griving me crazy.
Can someone tell me how to add a pattern i have created to a layer mask. I can create the layer mask but it is empy and i dont know how to turn it onto a pattern.Thanks in advance

 

[A.N.Other]

You can use the brush tool to colour the layer mask in. With custom brushes, you can do any funky pattern you want.

You can't paste images into them, if that's what you're trying to do.

 

[Barracuda]

thanks for the reply. I was trying to copy into the mask and getting frustrated when nothing happened. After much faffing about i realised that i can use the edit -> fill command and specify pattern in the command box. It works a treat.