Inverting a mask in Affinity Photo is straightforward and can be achieved in a few ways, depending on your workflow and preference. This involves reversing the mask's effect, revealing areas previously hidden and hiding areas that were visible.
Methods for Inverting Masks in Affinity Photo
Several methods allow you to invert a mask in Affinity Photo:
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Method 1: Using the Layer Menu: Select the mask thumbnail on the Layers panel. Then, go to the Layer menu and choose Invert. This is the most direct and commonly used method. This is confirmed in several sources, including the Affinity Photo help documentation which explicitly states: "From the Layer menu, select Invert." https://affinity.help/photo2/en-US.lproj/pages/Layers/LayerMasks.html
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Method 2: Using the Channels Panel: Alternatively, navigate to the Channels panel. Click the mask's alpha channel entry and select Invert. This method offers an alternative approach to achieve the same result. This is also directly stated in the Affinity Photo help documentation: "On the Channels panel, -click the mask's alpha channel entry and select Invert." https://affinity.help/photo2/en-US.lproj/pages/Layers/LayerMasks.html
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Method 3: Keyboard Shortcut: A quicker method involves using the keyboard shortcut ⌘I (Mac) or Ctrl+I (Windows). This directly inverts the selected mask. While not explicitly stated in all references, this is a common shortcut across image editing software and likely functions in Affinity Photo as well.
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Method 4: Alt/Option-Clicking the Mask: For adjustment layers, a faster method exists. Highlight the adjustment layer, then Option-click (Mac) or Alt-click (Windows) the mask icon. This inverts the mask on that specific adjustment layer. This method is mentioned in a Reddit thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/AffinityPhoto/comments/yrsktf/how_do_you_invert_a_mask_in_affinity_photo_2/
Indirect Methods and Workarounds
Some users have suggested workarounds, particularly in older versions or discussions, but the methods above are the most efficient and reliable ways to invert a mask in Affinity Photo. For instance, some forum posts suggest creating a new mask with the inverse selection, or manipulating the layer opacity as alternatives, but these are less efficient than the direct inversion methods outlined above. The statement "Seems you cannot invert a mask just like you can easily do in Photoshop" from an older forum post https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/40711-inverting-a-mask-how-to-do-that-in-affinity-photo/ is outdated, as the direct inversion methods now exist.
