Masking is a process to hide some portions of an image and to reveal some portions. It is a non-destructive process of image editing.  it is an efficient and more creative way of the image manipulation services. We can make changes later or fine tune to our masks whenever we need.

Type of masking

  1. Layer Mask
  2. Clipping Mask
  3. Alpha Channel Masking
  4. Vector Mask
  5. Quick Mask
  6. Adjustment Layer Mask

1.    Layer mask: –

  • Open an image
  • Select circle shape
  • Click on Add vector mask icon from layer panel
  • Selected part of an image will display, remaining part will be hidden.

Layer Mask

  • Open two different images
  • Create new document
  • Place both image (overlap) in same document
  • Select topmost layer
  • Layer >add layer mask > reveal all
  • Select foreground color black background color white
  • Click on brush tool start panting
    • Black – Transparent
    • Gray – Sámi transparent
    • White – opaque

To Change layer mask area

  • Click on layer mask thumbnail,
  • Chose brush from tool panel
  • Paint on required place
    • white colour revel image
    • black color hide image

Unlink layers and masks

By default, a layer or group is linked to its layer mask or vector mask,

  • To unlink a layer from its mask, click the link icon in the Layers panel.
  • To reestablish the link between a layer and its mask, click between the layer and mask path thumbnails in the Layers panel.

Disable or enable a layer mask

  • Select the layer containing the layer mask you want to disable or enable, and click the Disable/Enable Mask button in the Properties panel.
  • Shift-click the layer mask thumbnail in the Layers panel.
  • Select the layer containing the layer mask you want to disable or enable, and choose Layer > Layer Mask > Disable or Layer > Layer Mask > Enable
  • To remove the layer mask without applying it to the layer, click the Delete button at the bottom of the Properties panel, and then click Delete.

2.    Clipping Mask

A clipping mask is a group of layers to which a mask is applied. The bottommost layer, or base layer, defines the visible boundaries of the entire group.

  • Open an image
  • Press Ctrl + J to duplicate
  • Hide main layer
  • Create new layer (object layer)
  • Create circle shape with any color
  • Arrange it to below image layer
  • Press Alt key and click between image layer and object layer
  • or
  • Select image layer
  • Press Ctrl + Alt + G
  • or
  • Go to layer menu
  • Click on create clipping mask

Clipping Mask (collage image)

  • Open an image
  • Make New layer for collage object
  • Crate rectangular selection from marquee tool
  • fill any colour
  • Go to layer style from layer palate
    • Click on stroke
    • Stroke width 5-10px
    • Colour white
  • Click on drop shadow
  • Click on ok
  • Duplicate object layer and place it as per your required
  • Duplicate image layer and Place it as
    • image layer must be on top
    • object layer
    • image layer
    • object layer
  • Click on image layer
  • Press Ctrl+ Alt + G ( Cliping mask on each image layer)
  • hide (visibility off) bakcground image

3.    Alpha Channel Mask

Alpha channel is the saved form of selection. It stores the selection as an editable grayscale mask in the Channels panel. Once stored as an alpha channel, it can reload the selection at any time or even load it into another image.

4.    Vector Mask

A vector mask is a resolution independent path that clips out the contents of the layer. Vector masks are usually more accurate than those created with pixel-based tools. You create vector masks with the pen or shapes tools.

5.    Quick Mask

Quick Masks is a process of speed selection and edit. It starts with a selection and then add to or subtract from it to make the mask with the help of brush tool. Click the Quick Mask mode button in the toolbox. A color overlay covers and protects the area outside the selection. With a selection made and the Quick Mask mode enabled, however, we can see precisely what areas of the image are selected, feathered, or completely left unaffected.

Temporary quick mask

  • Using any selection tool, select the part of the image you want to change.
  • Click the Quick Mask mode button in the toolbox.
  • A color overlay covers and protects the area outside the selection.
  • By default, Quick Mask mode colors the protected area using a red, 50% opaque overlay.
  • To edit the mask, select a painting tool from the toolbox. The swatches in the toolbox automatically become black and white.
  • Paint with white to select more of an image (the color overlay is removed from areas painted with white). To deselect areas, paint over them with black (the color overlay covers areas painted with black). Painting with gray or another color creates a semitransparent area, useful for feathering or anti-aliased effects. (Semitransparent areas may not appear to be selected when you exit Quick Mask mode, but they are.)
  • Apply the desired changes to the image. Changes affect only the selected area.
  • Choose Select > Deselect to deselect the selection.
  • You can convert this temporary mask to a permanent alpha channel by switching to standard mode and choosing Select > Save Selection.

 

6.    Adjustment Layer Mask

An adjustment layer mask is a flexible way to add an adjustment to an image without directly changing the image itself. Every adjustment layer comes with a built-in layer mask. You can add black, white, or gray to an adjustment layer mask to target the adjustment to a particular part of an image.