Inverting a Quick Mask in Photoshop is a simple keyboard shortcut action that swaps the masked and unmasked areas.
Quick Mask mode in Photoshop is a temporary, editable mask that you can use to create or refine selections. When you enter Quick Mask mode (by pressing Q), Photoshop overlays a translucent color (usually red) on the areas that are not selected. The areas that appear clear are selected. Sometimes, after painting in Quick Mask mode, you might realize you've masked the wrong part of the image or simply need to switch which areas are protected and which are active for editing. This is where inverting the mask becomes essential.
Why Invert a Quick Mask?
- Swap Selection Areas: The primary reason is to quickly switch the selected and masked portions of your image. If you painted the area you don't want to affect, inverting swaps it so the area you do want to affect is selected.
- Correct Mistakes: Easily flip your masking work if you started painting the protection area instead of the active area (or vice-versa).
- Refine Complex Selections: Inverting can sometimes make it easier to refine edges or add/subtract from a selection based on the current mask.
Steps to Invert Your Quick Mask
Once you are in Quick Mask mode and have painted your mask:
- Ensure you are still in Quick Mask mode (you should see the colored overlay).
- Use the simple keyboard command to invert the mask.
Here are the specific shortcuts:
- On Mac: Press Command+I
- On Windows: Press Ctrl+I
As stated in the reference, using Command+I on Mac or Ctrl+I on Windows will invert the mask, rendering its opposite. The areas that were previously covered by the translucent color will become clear (selected), and the areas that were clear will become covered (masked).
You will instantly see the colored overlay switch to cover the opposite areas of your image. The mask is now inverted, and your selection when you exit Quick Mask mode (Q again) will reflect this change.
Inverting a mask is a fundamental and frequently used technique when working with selections and masks in Photoshop, allowing for greater flexibility and efficiency in your workflow.
