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Basic Layer Mask
Softening edges with a Layer
Mask |
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Layer masks are very handy. You can create smooth
transitions from opaque to transparent areas, or from
one image to another. You can hide unwanted sections
of images. You do not need to erase or delete any
part of your original image(s). You can modify the
mask in your *.psd file at a later time too.
In this example, We'll use a Layer Mask to create
soft edges on the top and bottom of a photograph.
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What is a Layer Mask?
A Layer Mask is an
8-bit grayscale channel where white areas allow pixels
to be seen and black areas hide pixels. Basically,
layer masks are a handy way of hiding part of an image.
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This is the layer
mask I applied to this picture of my cat. |
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Basic Layer Mask |
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1. Save
this Cat image to your hard drive.
Right-click (Win) / Control-click (Mac) on the cat image.
Mine is called "cat_portrait".
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2. Open
"cat_portrait" >Rename layer to Cat.
Create a new layer > Name it White >
Fill it with white > Make White the bottom layer.
On the Layers palette hold down Alt (Win) / Option (Mac) and click
the 
New Layer icon. In the dialogue box that opens, name the layer
"White".
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3. Target
Cat layer > Add a mask  .
Your Cat layer should now have two thumbnails on it like mine;
the cat image and now a layer mask thumbnail.
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4. Default
colors > Switch colors
Press D to set your foreground and background colors to your default
colors (black and white).
Now press X to switch the foreground
and background colors. You should
have white in front and black in back on your toolbar, like mine.
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5. Gradient
Tool > White - Black > Reflected Gradient
Press G to select your Gradient Tool  ,
or select it on the toolbar.
Make sure you have a white-black gradient
in your gradient options. A black-white gradient will produce
unwanted results (in this case).
| Note: To change gradient
colors -Click on the gradient colors on the option bar and
choose a white-black gradient. Press OK. |
Select a Reflected Gradient from the option
bar.
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6. Target
Cat Mask thumbnail.
On your layers palette, click on the Layer mask thumbnail to make
sure your layer mask is targeted (it sould have a white box around
it).
We do this because we don't want to add a
gradient to the image, we want to add the gradient to the layer
mask.
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7. Drag
a vertical gradient from center.
Hold down shift, and click and drag with your gradient tool from
the middle of the image to about a centimetre from the top or
bottom.
When you let go of the mouse button, you should
have something like my image here without the instructions on
it.
If you don't get the gradient right the first
time re-drag another one. Just make sure your Layer mask thumbnail
is still targeted.
| Note: Holding down
shift constrains our drag action to a perfect vertical or
horizontal axis, depending on which way you click and drag. |
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| Insight! |
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If you've got it looking right now, take a second to look
at your layer mask thumbnail on the layers palette.
Notice that where you see white pixels on the thumbnail,
you can see the cat. Where there are black pixels, the cat
is hidden, and the layer underneath (a white background)
is showing through.
The gray pixels are creating semi-transparent pixels in
the cat image. The value of transparency is based on the
254 shades of gray in grayscale.
You can also access your layer mask in the Channels palette.
Take a look, you should see a channel named Cat Mask.
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Final Touches |
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8. You
can still move the image around without moving the layer mask,
and vice versa.
Mask link off > Target Cat thumbnail
> Move layer.
Go to your Layers palette. Turn
off the Link icon between the two thumbnails on the Cat layer.
Click on the thumbnail of the cat to target the cat image.
Use your move tool (M) 
or arrow keys to move the image up or down a bit if you want to.
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9. Duplicate
Cat layer
In the layers palette, Right-click / Control-click on the Cat
layer and choose Duplicate Layer. Make sure you're not clicking
on a thumnail because you won't get this context menu if you do.
Duplicating the layer will help the image stand out more. Right
now mine's a bit washed out.
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Mask Options |
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10. Apply
Layer Mask
To access your Layer Mask Options, Right-click / Control-click
on the Layer mask thumbnail.
Apply Layer Mask will not allow you
to make any more changes to it. If you want to delete the mask
because you don't want it anymore, choose Discard Layer Mask.
You can also temporarily Disable Layer Mask.
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Things To Try
Create some more masks using different types of white-black gradients.
Use another image underneath the masked image,
instead of a white or coloured background.
Create a selection on a layer, then add a mask .
Create an alpha channel in the channels palette
and apply it to a layer as a mask.
Duplicate the Cat layer several times and
apply different effects to each copy. Then apply a different layer
mask to each copy.
Try using other tools on the layer mask too.
Paint with a black or white brush. Or use your eraser. Make a
mess?... Oh well, just discard the Layer mask if you're not happy
with it.
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| email: rkovacs@thevein.com
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© 2001 Rod Kovacs -- A RK
Tutorial |