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Notes on Lesson 04 - Layer Mask | PiXimperfect

• Downloads
• Notes
  • setup a mask
    • to hide and show the layer mask
  • reason 1: non destructive abilities
    • hide the selected area (2 methods)
      • method 1
      • method 2
  • compatibility with non raster layer
  • linking and unlinking layer masks
  • turning on and off mask
  • mask properties: feather
  • mask properties: density
    • apply color lookup mask to subject
      • method 1
      • method 2
    • decrease the opacity of the mask on the rest of the layer
  • duplicate masks
    • create a new overlay layer
    • convert the overlay layer to a smart filter
    • apply the original mask to the smart filter
• Playlist

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Downloads

• Practice Files: https://bit.ly/44aHY3c

Notes

the purpose of the mask is to hide parts of the image

setup a mask

1. select the text

2. click on the mask button in the layers pane

   • this will add a white square to the right of the text entry
   • 

The concept of a layer mask is that

• black areas are hidden
• white areas are shown

so select the layer mask and draw with black on the center panel to hide or show areas

to hide and show the layer mask

• hold the alt/opt key and click on the layer mask
• you can also click on any other layer, or outside the layer mask to hide it

reason 1: non destructive abilities

while you can certainly delete parts of an image and putting something else in it's place, you cannot undo that deletion so easily.

1. select the area you want to show
2. hit the mask button (this will automatically hide everything not selected)

hide the selected area (2 methods)

method 1

1. selecte the area you want to hide
2. select->inverse
3. hit the mask button

method 2

1. select the area you want to hide
2. ALT/OPT + mask button

compatibility with non raster layer

1. place an image on top of a background

   • Photoshop->Settings->General->Always Create Smart Objects When Placing
   • the image is going to be selected as a mask

2. go to the backround layer, select subject the subject

   • note that "select subject will be highlighed"
   • 

3. return to the imposed layer and create a negative mask

   • alt+mask button on layers

4. at this point you can blend the layers if you like

   • double click top layer, you'll open to blending options

   • move the sliders in underlying layer to get what you want

     • if you hold down the ALT key, and hover over the slider, you can split and drag it

linking and unlinking layer masks

if you want to move the pattern around, you'll see a problem of the mask moving with the pattern.

this applies to normal transformation it also applies even to filters such as blurs. ie, the blur will affect the shape of the MASK ITSELF

the way to unlink or unlink is to click on the link icon that connects the mask to the image

turning on and off mask

• hold Shift key and click on the mask, a red X will appear on mask

mask properties: feather

• bring up properties panel on mask

  • double click on mask
  • select mask and click the properties button
• find the feather slider and change it

mask properties: density

apply color lookup mask to subject

method 1

• add a the 'color lookup' filter
• select subject from image layer
• OPT+DELETE apply mask to color lookup layer
• CMD+D deselect the selection
• CMD+I invert the mask

method 2

• select subject

• add a 'color lookup' filter

  • this will automatically apply a mask to the selected area

decrease the opacity of the mask on the rest of the layer

• open up properties
• slide the density to be lower or higher

duplicate masks

create a new overlay layer

• CMD+SHIFT+N create new layer

  • choose blend mode 'overlay'

  • click the check box to "fill with overlay-neutral color 50% gray"

    • overlay blend mode hides anything that is 50% gray
    • 

convert the overlay layer to a smart filter

• select the overlay layer
• Filter->Convert for Smart Filters

• Filter->Noise->Add Noise

  • set the noise to 30

• Filter->Blur->Gaussian Blur

  • noise is to fine, we need to blur it
  • set the blur to .8

apply the original mask to the smart filter

• OPT + DRAG

• CMD+I invert the mask

  • apply the smart filter mostly to the background

Playlist

• 00:00 What Are Layer Masks?
• 02:58 Important Downloads & Announcements
• 03:29 Why Use A Layer Mask?
• 03:47 Reason 1: Non-Destructive Abilities
• 07:54 Reason 2: Compatibility with Non-Raster Layer
• 11:26 Linking & Unlinking Layer Masks
• 13:33 Turning Off and On
• 14:28 Mask Properties: Feather
• 17:41 Mask Properties: Density
• 19:44 Duplicate Masks
• 21:35 Problem with Copying Masks current
• 23:37 Double Masking
• 26:44 Image as a Mask
• 28:28 Concept Recap