The color and opacity of the overlay can also be changed by double-clicking the mask’s thumbnail. Simply press with the layer selected to toggle the overlay on and off. If you’d like to see both the mask and the layer at the same time, you can view the mask as a Ruby overlay. Option + clicking on the thumbnail will display only the mask on the canvas this is great for fine-tuning areas but doesn’t allow you to see the actual layer as you work. While creating a mask, there are a number of ways to view the mask data. Painting the mask black is much like using the eraser tool. The mask can also be tweaked using adjustments and filters such as Curves, Threshold, Unsharp mask and Gaussian blur. You can then paint in black to hide areas or white to show them. Once a mask is created, it can be edited as if it were any other pixel data by clicking on the mask’s thumbnail. However, if you happen to have a selection active when creating the mask, the selection will be used to define the grayscale values of the mask. A second thumbnail will be added to the layer, giving you a preview of the mask. CreationĬreating a pixel mask is as easy as selecting the layer or layer group and clicking the “Add Layer Mask” button at the bottom of the layer’s palette. Pixel masks should not be used when you might have to rescale.

Under such circumstances, vector masks would be preferable. Smooth curves and perfect edges can also be tricky to create when painting a mask. Because of their raster format, scaling them can cause unwanted artifacts and interpolated bluriness. While pixel masks can be easily modified, they aren’t ideal for every situation. Pixel Masks are ideal for extracting complex photographic imagery. The ability to vary opacities is unique to pixel masks, making them an invaluable tool. Pixel masks allow 100 shades of gray, which correspond directly to opacity percentages. the hair on a model or leaves on a tree). This makes them ideal for masking complex photographic imagery (e.g.

Pixel masks determine opacity values based on a raster image with grayscale values that correspond pixel for pixel to the original layer. Each of them has its own pros and cons, and knowing which method to use is extremely important for creating clean, flexible and properly masked layers. Photoshop offers five methods of masking: Pixel Masks, Vector Masks, Quick Masks, Clipping Masks and Clipping Paths, all of which define pixel opacities without affecting the original data. In this article, we’ll explore the technical aspects and creative advantages of incorporating masks into your workflow. Not only do they preserve important pixel data, but they allow for the creation of flexible interface elements as well. Photoshop Masks are the cornerstone of this process. Learning non-destructive editing techniques helps you produce documents that bend along with your creativity. As complexity builds, so does the need for preserving data in a flexible way. Design is a fluid and shifting process in which layers are constantly modified and tweaked.

Select and mask photoshop 2022