A Complete Beginner's Guide: Understanding Masking in Photoshop

Masking is one of the most important techniques or skills to learn in Photoshop. Understanding Masking technique can help you to jump from being a beginner level Photoshop user, to a more advanced one.

In this article, I will explain how masking really works in Photoshop, its few key concepts, and how Masking helps you to perform non-destructive editing.

Expert Andy Anderson shows how to effectively use adjustment layers and mask techniques to achieve non-destructive edits in your Photoshop projects.

About layer and vector masks

You can use masks to hide portions of a layer and reveal portions of the layers below. You can create two types of masks:

Layer masks are resolution-dependent bitmap images that are edited with the painting or selection tools.
Vector masks are resolution independent and are created with a pen or shape tool.

Layer and vector masks are nondestructive, which means you can go back and re‑edit the masks later without losing the pixels they hide.

In the Layers panel, both the layer and vector masks appear as an additional thumbnail to the right of the layer thumbnail. For the layer mask, this thumbnail represents the grayscale channel that is created when you add the layer mask. The vector mask thumbnail represents a path that clips out the contents of the layer.

Note:
To create a layer or vector mask on the Background layer, first convert it to a regular layer (Layer > New > Layer from Background).

Masking layer

A. Layer mask thumbnail B. Vector mask thumbnail C. Vector Mask Link icon D. Add Mask

You can edit a layer mask to add or subtract from the masked region. A layer mask is a grayscale image, so areas you paint in black are hidden, areas you paint in white are visible, and areas you paint in shades of gray appear in various levels of transparency.

Background painted with black; description card painted with gray; basket painted with white

A vector mask creates a sharp-edged shape on a layer and is useful anytime you want to add a design element with clean, defined edges. After you create a layer with a vector mask, you can apply one or more layer styles to it, edit them if needed, and instantly have a usable button, panel, or other web-design element.

The Properties panel (CC, CS6) or the Masks panel (CS5) provide additional controls to adjust a mask. You can change the opacity of mask to let more or less of the masked content show through, invert the mask, or refine the mask borders, as with a selection area.

Masks panel (CS5) and Properties panel (CC, CS6)

A. Select the filter mask. B. Add a pixel mask. C. Add a vector mask. D. Panel menu. E. Apply Mask F. Layer mask G. Vector mask

Add layer masks

When you add a layer mask, you can hide or show all of the layer, or base the mask on a selection or transparency. Later, you’ll paint on the mask to precisely hide portions of the layer, revealing the layers beneath.

Add a mask that shows or hides the entire layer

Make sure that no part of your image is selected. Choose Select > Deselect.
In the Layers panel, select the layer or group.
Do one of the following:
- To create a mask that reveals the entire layer, click the Add Layer Mask button in the Layers panel, or choose Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All.
- To create a mask that hides the entire layer, Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Mac OS) the Add Layer Mask button, or choose Layer > Layer Mask > Hide All.

Tips: In CS5, you can also use the Masks panel (Window > Masks).

Add a layer mask that hides part of a layer

In the Layers panel, select the layer or group.
Select the area in the image, and do one of the following:
- Click the New Layer Mask button in the Layers panel to create a mask that reveals the selection.
- Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Mac OS) the Add Layer Mask button in the Layers panel, to create a mask that hides the selection.
- Choose Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal Selection or Hide Selection.

Create a mask from layer transparency

If you want to directly edit layer transparency, create a mask from this data. This technique is helpful for video and 3D workflows.

In the Layers panel, select the layer.
Choose Layer > Layer Mask > From Transparency.

Photoshop converts transparency into an opaque color, hidden by the newly created mask. The opaque color varies greatly, depending upon the filters and other processing previously applied to the layer.

Apply a layer mask from another layer

Do one of the following:

To move the mask to another layer, drag the mask to the other layer.
To duplicate the mask, Alt-drag (Windows) or Option-drag (Mac OS) the mask to other layer.

Unlinking layers and masks

By default, a layer or group is linked to its layer mask or vector mask, as indicated by the link icon

between the thumbnails in the Layers panel. The layer and its mask move together in the image when you move either one with the Move tool

. Unlinking them lets you move them independently and shift the mask’s boundaries separately from the layer.

To unlink a layer from its mask, click the link icon in the Layers panel.
To reestablish the link between a layer and its mask, click between the layer and mask path thumbnails in the Layers panel.

Disable or enable a layer mask

Do one of the following:

Select the layer containing the layer mask you want to disable or enable, and click the Disable/Enable Mask button in the Properties panel (CC, CS6) or the Masks panel (CS5).
Shift-click the layer mask thumbnail in the Layers panel.
Select the layer containing the layer mask you want to disable or enable, and choose Layer > Layer Mask > Disable or Layer > Layer Mask > Enable.

A red X appears over the mask thumbnail in the Layers panel when the mask is disabled, and the layer’s content appears without masking effects.

Apply or delete a layer mask

You can apply a layer mask to permanently delete the hidden portions of a layer. Layer masks are stored as alpha channels, so applying and deleting layer masks can help reduce file size. You can also delete a layer mask without applying the changes.

In the Layers panel, select the layer containing the layer mask.
In the Masks panel, click the Pixel Mask button.
Do one of the following:
- To remove the layer mask after applying it permanently to the layer, click the Apply Mask icon at the bottom of the Properties panel (CC, CS6) and Masks panel (CS5).
- To remove the layer mask without applying it to the layer, click the Delete button at the bottom of the Masks panel, and then click Delete.
  You can also apply or delete layer masks using the Layer menu.

Note:

You cannot apply a layer mask permanently to a Smart Object layer when deleting the layer mask.

Select and display the layer mask channel

For easier editing of a layer mask, you can display the grayscale mask by itself or as a rubylith overlay on the layer.

In the Layers panel, do one of the following:

Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Mac OS) the layer mask thumbnail to view only the grayscale mask. To redisplay the layers, Alt-click or Option-click the layer mask thumbnail. Alternatively, click the eye icon in the Properties panel (CC, CS6) or the Masks panel (CS5).
Hold down Alt+Shift (Windows) or Option+Shift (Mac OS), and click the layer mask thumbnail to view the mask on top of the layer in a rubylith masking color. Hold down Alt+Shift or Option+Shift, and click the thumbnail again to turn off the color display.

Change the layer mask rubylith color or opacity

Do one of the following:
(CS5) Double-click the layer mask thumbnail.
- Double-click the layer mask channel in the Channels panel.
- To choose a new mask color, in the Layer Mask Display Options dialog box, click the color swatch and choose a new color.
To change the opacity, enter a value between 0% and 100%.
Both the color and opacity settings affect only the appearance of the mask and have no effect on how underlying areas are protected. For example, you may want to change these settings to make the mask more easily visible against the colors in the image.
Click OK.

Adjusting mask opacity and edges

Use the Properties panel (CC, CS6) or the Masks panel(CS5) to adjust the opacity of a selected layer or vector mask. The Density slider controls mask opacity. Feather lets you soften mask edges.

Additional options are specific to layer masks. The Invert option reverses masked and unmasked areas. The Mask Edge option gives you various controls to modify the mask edges, such as Smooth and Contract/Expand.

Change mask density

In the Layers panel, select the layer containing the mask you want to edit.
Do one of the following:
- (CC, CS6) In the Layers panel click the Mask thumbnail. A border appears around the thumbnail.
- (CS5) In the Masks panel, click the Pixel Mask button or the Vector Mask button.
In the Properties panel (CC, CS6) or the Masks panel (CS5), drag the Density slider to adjust the mask opacity.
At 100% density, the mask is completely opaque and blocks out any underlying area of the layer. As you lower the density, more of the area under the mask becomes visible.

Feather mask edges

In the Layers panel, select the layer containing the mask you want to edit.
Do one of the following:
- (CC, CS6) In the Layers panel click the Mask thumbnail. A border appears around the thumbnail.
- (CS5) In the Masks panel, click the Pixel Mask button or the Vector Mask button.
Drag the Feather slider to apply feathering to the mask edges.
Feathering blurs the edges of the mask to create a softer transition between the masked and unmasked areas. Feathering is applied from the edges of the mask outward, within the range of pixels you set with the slider.

Refine mask edges

In the Layers panel, select the layer containing the mask you want to edit.
Do one of the following:
- (CC, CS6) In the Layers panel click the Mask thumbnail. A border appears around the thumbnail.
- (CS5) In the Masks panel, click the Pixel Mask button or the Vector Mask button.
Click Mask Edge. You can modify mask edges with the options in the Refine Mask dialog box and view the mask against different backgrounds.
Click OK to close the Refine Mask dialog box and apply your changes to the layer mask.

10 Things You Need to Know About Masking in Photoshop

Gradient Mask for Soft Transitions
You can use the Gradient Tool on a Pixel Mask to create soft transitions between your masked image and other layers below it. The best thing about gradient masks is that you can very quickly and easily update them using the Gradient Tool.
Clipping Mask With Text
Clipping Masks are very useful for using the contents of a layer as a mask for another layer. It is particularly helpful when you want to show an image inside a text. All you need to do is to create the text layer and place the image on top of it. When you get to this stage you just need to hold down Alt/Option and click between the two layers in the Layers panel. Once you have created a Clipping Mask you can still edit your text and move the image or the text around freely without breaking the link between the two elements of the mask.
Multiple Masks for Greater Control
It is possible to have a Pixel and a Vector Mask on the same layer at the same time, but when is that useful? In some cases you might have to do a selection, which has complicated edges on some parts and clean, sharp edges on other parts. In these cases it is useful to make the most of both mask types on the same layer. Pixel masks are better for fine and complicated details, while Vector masks are better for sharp, clean edges.
Vector Masks for Precise Edges
As we mentioned earlier, Vector Masks are the best to use for clean, sharp edges. There are a couple of things good to keep in mind when using the Pen Tool for creating the outlines of a Vector Mask:
- Use the least amount of anchor points possible
- Turn on the Rubber Band feature to see a preview of the next path segment
- Hold down Space while creating a new anchor point to move it freely
- Click on an anchor point while holding down Alt/Option to turn it into a smooth/corner point
- Hold down Command/Ctrl to temporarily access the Direct Selection Tool and move anchor points around
Pixel Masks and Custom Brushes
Another advantage of using Pixel Masks is that you can work with Custom Brushes and special Brush Tip Shapes on your mask. There are thousands of free Photoshop brush sets online, which you can easily import into Photoshop.
Mask Density and Feathering
Once you created a Pixel or a Vector Mask you can amend their visibility by adjusting the Density slider in the Properties panel, and you can add Feathering to their edges as well completely non-destructively.
Mask Edge for Edge Refinements
For more complicated selections you can also use the Mask Edge option from the Properties panel to improve the quality of the edges. The most effective combination of values for selecting hair inside the Mask Edge dialog box are the Smart Radius, Shift Edge and Decontaminate Color options.
Quick Mask
Quick Mask is a preliminary stage of creating a mask. It can be turned on by pressing Q and once inside Quick Mask view you can use the Brush or the Gradient Tool to create selections. By default selected areas will be shown with their original colors, while deselected parts will have a 50% red overlay on top of them. When you are ready with your selection you can press Q again. Finally you can turn your selection into a Pixel Mask to apply it onto a selected layer.
Lock Transparency
Lock Transparency is quite similar to using Clipping Masks. When you have transparency on a layer, and you turn Lock Transparency on, you make sure that you keep the contours or silhouette of the layer the same.
Keyboard Shortcuts
These are the keyboard shortcuts that you should know whenever you work with masks in Photoshop:
- Alt/Option click on the mask's thumbnail to enter/exit Mask view
- Shift-click on the mask's thumbnail to disable/enable it
- Shift+Alt/Option-click on the mask's thumbnail to enter/exit Quick Mask view based on the mask
- Command/Ctrl-click on the mask's thumbnail to create a selection based in the mask edges
- Command/Ctrl+Shift-click on the mask's thumbnail to add to a selection based on the mask edges
- Command/Ctrl+Alt/Option-click on the mask's thumbnail to subtract from a selection based on the mask edges
- Command/Ctrl+Shift+Alt/Option-click on the mask's thumbnail to create an intersection with your original selection and a new one based on the mask edges

Source: Tuts+ Design | adobe.com

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Masking, Masking in Photoshop, Masking Technique, Photoshop, Tips, Understanding Masking

Thursday, January 1, 2015

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