Mask: Non-Destructive Hiding
A Mask is a tool used to control the visibility of specific areas of a layer. Unlike the eraser tool, which deletes pixels, a mask simply hides them, allowing for non-destructive editing.
Masking is essential for complex compositing. By painting with black (to hide) or white (to reveal) on a mask, you can seamlessly blend two images together. For example, if you want to place a person from one photo onto a different background, you would use a layer mask to hide the original background without losing the ability to “paint” it back in later if you make a mistake.
Frequently Asked Questions
In a layer mask, black pixels make that part of the layer invisible, while white pixels keep them 100% visible. Gray levels create semi-transparency.
A clipping mask uses the shape of one layer to control the visibility of another. For example, putting a texture image “inside” a piece of text.
Unlike a pixel-based layer mask, a vector mask uses paths (created with the Pen Tool) to create sharp, resolution-independent edges.
Yes. By applying a mask to a folder/group, you can hide or reveal all the contents of that folder at once using a single mask.
Erasing is permanent (destructive). Masking is reversible (non-destructive), meaning you never actually lose the original image data.
It is a mask created based on the brightness values of an image, allowing you to specifically target only the highlights or shadows for editing.
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