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How do I add a layer mask in Photoshop?

Published in Photoshop Layer Masks 3 mins read

Adding a layer mask in Photoshop is straightforward and allows you to selectively hide or reveal parts of a layer.

Steps to Add a Layer Mask

  1. Select the layer: In the Layers panel, click on the layer you want to add a mask to.

  2. Click the "Add Layer Mask" button: At the bottom of the Layers panel, you'll find a button that looks like a rectangle with a circle in the middle. Click this button to create a layer mask.

    • A white rectangle will appear next to your layer's thumbnail in the Layers panel. This is your layer mask. Initially, the mask is completely white, meaning the entire layer is visible.

How Layer Masks Work

Layer masks use grayscale values to determine the visibility of the corresponding layer pixels.

  • White: White areas on the mask reveal the layer.
  • Black: Black areas on the mask hide the layer.
  • Grayscale: Shades of gray create partial transparency. Darker grays hide more of the layer, while lighter grays reveal more.

Editing a Layer Mask

To edit the layer mask:

  1. Select the mask: Click on the layer mask thumbnail (the white rectangle) in the Layers panel. Make sure there is a border around it to confirm it's selected.
  2. Use the Brush tool (or other tools): Select the Brush tool (B) from the toolbar.
  3. Set your foreground color:
    • To hide parts of the layer, set your foreground color to black.
    • To reveal parts of the layer, set your foreground color to white.
  4. Paint on the mask: Paint directly on the image to add to the mask. You will see the corresponding areas of the layer being hidden or revealed.

Example

Let's say you have an image of a person and a separate image of a background. You want to put the person into the new background.

  1. Place both images in the same Photoshop document as separate layers.
  2. Select the person's layer.
  3. Add a layer mask.
  4. Using a black brush, paint around the person on the layer mask to hide the original background. You can adjust the brush size and hardness for precise masking.
  5. The new background layer underneath will now be visible, effectively placing the person in the new background.

Layer masks are a non-destructive way to edit images in Photoshop, allowing you to easily adjust and refine your edits without permanently altering the original pixel data.

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