How To Add Mask To Layer In Photoshop

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This wikiHow teaches y'all how to create a layer mask, which can be used to conceal or reveal parts of other layers in Adobe Photoshop.

1
Open or create a Photoshop file. Double-click the Photoshop app icon, which resembles a blue icon with the letters "Ps," and then click on File in the menu bar at the top of the screen and perform one of the post-obit deportment:
- Click Open up... and and then double-click a projection to open an existing certificate.
- Click New... to create a new document, then add any images that you lot want to use.
ii

Make sure that you haven't selected a piece of an image. Y'all tin do this by clicking the Select bill of fare item at the height of the window and and then clicking Deselect in the drop-down card.

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3

Select a layer. In the "Layers" section of the Photoshop window, click the layer that yous want to mask.
iv
Click the Layer menu particular. Information technology's at the peak of the window. Doing so prompts a drop-down menu.
- On a Mac, this choice is at the top of the screen.
5

Select Layer Mask . You'll find this selection in the drop-downwards bill of fare. Doing so prompts a popular-out carte to appear.
half-dozen

Click Hibernate All . Information technology'south in the pop-out bill of fare. This will hibernate the entire selected layer.
vii
Save your project's changes. Click File in the upper-left corner, then click Salvage in the drop-down carte du jour.
- If yous created a new projection, doing this will open the "Relieve Every bit" window in which y'all'll need to enter a file name, select a location, and click Save again.

1
Open or create a Photoshop file. Double-click the Photoshop app icon, which resembles a blue icon with the letters "Ps," and then click on File in the bill of fare bar at the top of the screen and perform ane of the following actions:
- Click Open... and and then double-click a projection to open an existing document.
- Click New... to create a new certificate, then add any images that you want to use.
ii

Make sure that you haven't selected a piece of an image. You tin can practice this past clicking the Select carte du jour item at the summit of the window and then clicking Deselect in the drop-down carte du jour.
3

Select a layer. In the "Layers" department of the Photoshop window, click the layer that you want to mask.
iv
Select the role that you want to hide or prove. Depending on the level of particular that yous want to preserve, you'll have to utilize one of the post-obit tools for this footstep:
- Marquee Tool - Used to select a large expanse without worrying about fine edges. Click the dotted-line icon near the top of the "Tool" section, and so click and drag your mouse effectually the area that you desire to show or hide.
- Pen Tool - Used to select fine details. Click the fountain pen-shaped icon in the "Tool" section, then click and drag your mouse effectually the area that you want to show or hide.
5
Click the Layer menu detail. It's at the top of the window. Doing and so prompts a drop-down menu.
- On a Mac, this option is at the top of the screen.
6

Select Layer Mask . You'll find this choice in the driblet-downwards menu. Doing and then prompts a pop-out menu to appear.
seven

Click either Reveal Selection or Hide Selection . Choosing the Reveal Selection option will cause merely the selected expanse to display while the rest of the layer is masked, while choosing Hibernate Selection volition mask the selected area of the layer while preserving the unselected portion.^[1]
8

Move the mask if needed. If y'all want to move the mask up to display higher up a different layer, click and drag the masked layer in the "Layers" section upwardly or downwards until it'south positioned where y'all want it.
9
Relieve your project'southward changes. Click File in the upper-left corner, then click Save in the drop-downward menu.
- If you lot created a new projection, doing this volition open the "Save As" window in which you'll need to enter a file name, select a location, and click Relieve again.

one

Understand the purpose of Select and Mask. This tool allows y'all to select a part of an image to serve as the "revealed" part of a layer mask, which is useful when attempting to remove a person from a groundwork (or vice versa).
2
Open or create a Photoshop file. Double-click the Photoshop app icon, which resembles a blue icon with the messages "Ps," and so click on File in the menu bar at the top of the screen and perform one of the following deportment:
- Click Open... and then double-click a project to open an existing document.
- Click New... to create a new document, then add together whatsoever images that you want to use.
3

Select a layer. In the "Layers" section, click the paradigm that you want to turn into its own layer mask.
4

Click Select . This tab is at the top of the Photoshop window (Windows) or the figurer screen (Mac). A drib-downwardly menu will appear.
5

Click Select and Mask… . It's in the center of the drop-down menu. Doing so opens the "Properties" window on the right side of the Photoshop window.
6

Click the "View" drib-down box. This box is at the superlative of the "Backdrop" section on the correct side of the window. Clicking it prompts a drop-downward menu.
7
Click Onion Skin . It'south in the drop-down menu. This choice will permit you to select the part of your image that you lot want to utilise as the layer mask.
- Y'all can besides simply printing the O letter key.
8
Select the "Quick Selection" tool. Click the brush icon at the pinnacle of the cavalcade of brushes on the left side of the window, or press the Westward letter key.
- If your prototype's transparency is college or lower than 50 percent, showtime drag the "Transparency" slider that'southward in the correct-mitt menu to the 50 percent marking.
- This tool may already be selected.
9
Select a department to save. Click and drag your mouse around the office of the layer that you want to reveal. You should see the selected sections subtract in transparency.
- Anything not selected will be cut from the layer when you lot're done.
10
Remove soft-edge details. Soft-edge details are remnants of the layer'southward original background. These details can cause your image to look sloppy, merely y'all can get rid of them past doing the following:^[two]
- Click the "View" drib-downwardly box again.
- Click either On Black or On White depending on your photo'south colour.
- Printing R to select the "Refine Edge Brush" tool.
- Click and elevate effectually the edges of your paradigm.
11
Touch up your prototype. You can check for whatever terminal-minute sloppy details by clicking the "View" drop-downward box and selecting Black & White, selecting the "Quick Selection" brush, and clicking whatsoever small black spots within of the paradigm expanse.
- The unabridged image's background will likewise be black—leave the background alone.
12

Save your image as a layer mask. Click the "Output To" drop-down box on the right side of the page, click Layer Mask in the drop-down carte, and click OK at the bottom of the right-hand menu.
xiii
Relieve your projection's changes. Click File in the upper-left corner, then click Salve in the driblet-downwards carte.
- If y'all created a new project, doing this will open the "Relieve Every bit" window in which you'll need to enter a file name, select a location, and click Relieve again.

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Double-click the layer mask in the Layers window to adjust the Density and Plumage sliders. These sliders accommodate the layer mask's transparency and edge sharpness, respectively.

Masking part of a layer won't have any event if the layer itself isn't to a higher place a layer that yous want to display.

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Article Summary 10

1. Open a Photoshop project.
two. Deselect any parts of images by clicking the Select menu and clicking Deselect
3. Select a layer.
iv. Click Layer
5. Select Layer Mask
half-dozen. Click Hide All