Inverting a mask in Photoshop quickly reverses the masked and unmasked areas. To do this, simply select the mask in the Layers panel and press Command+I (Mac) or Ctrl+I (Windows). Alternatively, you can go to Image > Adjustments > Invert.
This shortcut instantly flips the mask, revealing the previously hidden areas and masking the previously visible ones. This is a useful technique for quickly editing images without having to manually erase or paint.
For example, you could use this to:
- Isolate a subject: Mask around a subject, then invert the mask to quickly reveal the background.
- Create a vignette: Mask a circular area, then invert the mask to darken the edges of the image.
- Highlight specific details: Mask a small area, then invert the mask to focus attention on that area.
There are other ways to achieve the same result, including using the Quick Mask mode (Q key) and selecting Image > Adjustments > Invert, or by using the Invert Layer option within the Channels panel. However, the Command+I/Ctrl+I shortcut remains the fastest and most straightforward method for inverting a layer mask.
