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Layer Masks


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#1 Harmony Havoc

Harmony Havoc

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Posted 17 January 2006 - 03:50 AM

Layer Masks

One of the most powerful functionalities in Photoshop is the ability to overlay images and objects on top of each other, and then change the overall opacity of those layers, or selectively change the opacity in certain areas of the layer. Understanding how to use this feature is particularly important, as it forms the basis of many complex compositing effects and is applicable in numerous situations.

A mask is just what it sounds like; it defines what parts of the layer can be seen. Masks are incredibly useful for blending photos and hiding portions of images without altering them directly. Layer masks are a function of opacity. Imagine putting a piece of paper over a photograph: the photo is hidden, and only the paper, or “mask” is visible. Use scissors to cut a hole in the mask paper, and reveal the photo underneath. Digital masks work in the same basic way. When you paint on the mask using black, you are “cutting” the mask away to reveal what's beneath. Any white part of the mask is opaque, and black part is transparent, and any shades of gray are varying opacities.

Reasons to use Layer Masks:

· Layer Masks are editable selections that play an important role in non destructive editing
· Layer Masks offer flexibility because they can be almost completely treated as a full gray scale image,
which allows the use of filters, selection tools, adjustment tools, etc.
· They have a visual strength, meaning that with a short look on the layers you can see how they affect
the image
· They offer extra flexibility by being part of vector masks, layer sets, adjustment layers, etc.
· Layer masks allow you to save selections
· Even though the masked parts are hidden they are still available if you need them

As stated above, to understand layer masks you have to remember the following:

· The color black in a layer mask hides the corresponding pixels in the linked layer (actually makes those
pixels transparent).
· The color white leaves the corresponding in the linked layer intact; it doesn't do anything with them

Masking baiscs tutorials:

Basic Masking Tutorial One
Basic Masking Tutorial Two
Basic Masking Tutorial Three

Very comprehensive overview of the various aspects of using Layer Masks:

Using Masks Overview

A very good exercise to do to help understand Layer Masks:

Masking Exercise




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