Making and using Masks

In this Photoshop class, which forms part of a series covering essential Photoshop tools, Karl looks at masks in Photoshop, what they are and how to use them.

Masks are a useful tool that can be used to hide portions of a layer and reveal the layers below. They can be a valuable technique for applying adjustments to particular areas of an image, combining multiple photos into a single image or for removing objects from a photo.

In this class you’ll learn how to invert masks, view a mask, create selections from masks, group masks, mask groups and much more. Through practical demonstrations, you’ll learn how to create and use layer masks to hide or reveal particular areas of an image and apply particular adjustments.

This Photoshop class covers the following:

• What are masks
• How to create a layer mask in Photoshop
• The advantages of using masks
• Using black/white brushes to hide/reveal part of the mask
• How to adjust flow and opacity of a mask
• How to adjust mask edges
• How to display layer masks
• Making selections from layer masks
• Grouping masks
• Adding masks to groups

If you have any questions about this class, please post in the comment section below.

Key concepts

How to create a mask.

How to create a mask in Photoshop.

How to hide/reveal through a mask.

Masks can be used to hide or reveal adjustments or areas of an image.

Refining masks.

Masks can be refined by adjusting the density or feather.

Making selections from masks.

Selections can be created from masks.

Grouping masks.

Multiple masks can be grouped together for greater organisation.