What is the difference between mask and layer

In the 21st century, there are huge improvements in the film and photography industry. There is no doubt that photography has changed a lot due to progression in advancing technology.

Analogue photography is no longer there. Using a computer with photography has made this industry quite lucrative. By using clipping, mask:. Designers employ these masks to make a lot of enhancement in their photos as well as designs. Designs are not only on your images.

But designs are almost all the things that you come across in your day-to-day activities. Designing is somehow close to the artwork. Use your design on a cup or t-shirt it is more of artwork. A layer-clipping mask is a group of masks applied together in a clipping mask. Did you know that you could link a layer mask in a clipping mask and use them together? This will definitely lead to a unique and simply amazing design at the end of the day. Layer masks control the transparency of your design or image.

In simple reality, it enables all the areas hidden by layer masks to be transparent. This will allow the images on the lower layer to be visible.

This is simple setoff layers that contain mask. The base layer is the most important in determining the boundaries of content. Photo editors tend to use layer masks more often while digital designers often lean on clipping masks. However there's no hard rule so you should do your best to learn both. Let's get started with layer masks and see how these can be applied to photo manipulation. To create a new layer mask go down to the layers palette and click the small camera icon.

The selected layer will gain a new white thumbnail with a link between the two. Layer masks are created with only white and black. In fact, try changing your foreground color to red then select the white layer mask thumbnail. Your red foreground will automatically change to black.

In the world of layer masks white shows the pixels and black hides the pixels. Think of layer masks as selections managed on a separate layer. In this brief demo I'll be using a photo of Morgan Freeman to demonstrate how this works. Layer masks can be created either by making a selection first, or making the mask first and then selecting your pixels. Both methods are perfectly fine which is why layer masks are so flexible and useful to photographers. With the photo of Morgan in a new document grab the Pen tool and draw a small selection around his face.

If you're not comfortable with the pen tool you can try the ellipse selection or magic wand — but the Pen is undoubtedly the best way to go. Try following my previous pen tool tutorial if you want to learn more. This will turn the path into a selection. Again this is the small camera icon 3rd from the left. Everything else will be hidden. The other alternative would be to create a selection with the brush tool using Quick Mask. Directly underneath this you'll find a button to enable quick masking.

Use the brush tool and paint over Morgan's face as best you can. Red means it'll be part of the selection. Your email address will not be published. Yes, add me to your mailing list. All courses can also be available as live online training via Zoom on a one to one or group basis, please contact us with your requirements contact us. An example of when using Luminosity Masks rather than manually painting on the Layer Mask is beneficial is when you want to make a targeted adjustment.

I often adjust the color balance in certain areas of the image; I might add a little blue in the darkest shadows. Become a better photographer, starting today. Understanding Layers So, what exactly are layers and why are these so important to understand? Download Your Free Goodies. The Best Web Sharpeners for Photoshop. Goodbye Soft Images! Long Exposure Photography Without Filters? This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.

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