Creating Masks

Introduction

When you work on documents in Adobe Photoshop, theapplication does its best to make the experience as similar tothe real world as possible. When you select the Brush tooland drag within the document, you expect to see a swath ofcolor using the preselected size and brush tip. That's whatyou expect to see when you drag a brush on a canvas, andthat's what you see in Photoshop. Creating a realistic experi-ence is what Photoshop is all about. Yet, as realistic as thePhotoshop experience is, there are elements of digital designthat go way beyond the real world. For example, Photoshophas an undo button; the real world does not. Masks, forexample, give you the ability to remove elements of a layerwithout actually erasing the image pixels or objects. Masksgive you ultimate control over your Photoshop design bydeciding what elements of an image are visible, and makingchanges to the image without destroying any pixels orobjects. There are two types of masks: layer and vector. Alayer mask is a bitmap image created with painting and selec-tion tools, while a vector mask is an object created with a penor shape tool. In addition, masks are editable, which meansyou can change your mind at any time during the creativeprocess.

Imagine creating a complicated selection in Photoshop.Selections are temporary; they last only as long as your doc-ument is open. But what if you want to save this selection foruse later in the design? What you need is a type of layermask known as a channel mask. Channel masks hold simple,or complicated selections, and can be saved with the docu-ment. Channel masks are created from preexisting selections,or can be created from scratch by painting the mask withblack, white, or shades of gray.The process of creating aChannel mask is simple, but the results are powerful.

What You'll Do

Understand Layer and Vector Masks

Create a Layer Mask

Use Paint Tools with Layer Masks

Use Selections to Generate ComplexLayer Masks

Use Layer Masks to GenerateSoft Transparency

Create Unique Layer Mask Effects

Create a Vector Mask

Modify Layer and Vector Masks

Modify Selection Masks

Create Channel Masks

Create Channel Masks from Scratch orfrom Selections

Modify Channel Mask Options

Make Channel Masks from NativeColor Channels

Move Channel Masks BetweenDocuments

Combine Channel Masks

Use the Ouick Mask Mode

Modify Selections Using Ouick MaskMode

261

Understanding Layer and Vector Masks

Masks are not new; however, Photoshopdesigners find new ways to use them everyday. A mask is an attachment to a layer thatdefines the visible elements of the layer.Imagine a mask as a piece of paper on top ofthe image. Then take a trimming blade and cutholes in the paper.The holes in the paper rep-resent the visible area of the image under-neath the mask, while the rest of the paper(mask) hides the rest of the image.

Each layer in a multi-layered documentcan have its own mask; the mask only influ-ences the image elements of the layer towhich it's attached. Each layer type, with theexception of the Background, has the ability tohold a layer mask.

There are two types of masks: layer andvector. A layer mask, also known as a pixelmask, is a resolution-dependent bitmap image

created with painting and selection tools,while a vector mask is a resolution independ-ent object created with a pen or shape tool.

You can create a mask by using the AddLayer Mask/Add Vector Mask button on theLayers panel or by using the Add a LayerMask or Add a Vector Mask buttons on theProperties panel. The Properties panel alsoprovides options to change the opacity (den-sity) to let more or less of the masked contentthrough, invert the mask, or refine the maskborders. A layer mask is a grayscale image,where black represents transparent (invisible)elements, white represents visible elements,and shades of gray represent levels of trans-parency. For example, painting with 50% graymakes the image pixels appear 50% transpar-ent. A vector mask represents a path wherethe object clips out the contents of the layer.

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Creating a LayerMask

Create a Layer Masko Open a document.o Select the Layers and Properties

panel.o Click the layer that will contain themask.

o Click the Add Layer Mask buttonon the Layers panel.

o Click on the image thumbnail tomodify or adjust the image.

o Click on the mask thumbnail tomodify or paint on the mask.

o To control the opacity (density) ofthe mask and feather edge, dragthe sliders on the Properties panel.

• You can also access options toselect a color range, refine themask edge, or invert the mask.o To disable or enable the mask,

Shift-click on the mask thumbnail,or select the layer, and click theDisable/Enable Mask button onthe Properties panel.

o To view or hide the mask in thedocument window, Alt-click (Win)or Option-click (Mac) on the maskthumbnail.

G) To remove a layer mask, select thelayer, click the Layer Mask button,and then click the Delete Maskbutton on the Properties panel.

• To remove and apply the layermask, click the Apply Maskbutton on the Properties panel.

The creation of a layer mask requires two things: an open documentand any type of Photoshop layer with the exception of the Background.When you add a layer mask, you will be working with two layer ele-ments-the image and the mask. It's important to know which elementyou're working on or you might wind up painting on the image insteadof the mask. Once the mask is created, you can selectively control,without erasing, the visible portions of the image.

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Chapter 10 Creating Masks 263

Using Paint Tools withLayer Masks

Use Paint Tools with a LayerMasko Open a document.o Select the Layers panel.

• Create a layer mask on one of theactive image layers.

e Click the layer mask thumbnail.

• Select the Brush tool and brushtip.

o Move into the document windowand paint with black to createtransparency.o Use white to touch up the image.

o Use shades of gray to createpartial transparency.

Did You Know?You can create a mask from transpar-ent areas. Select the Layers panel,select the layer with the transparentareas you want to create into a mask,click the Layer menu, point to LayerMask, and then click FromTransparency.

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Unless a mask is created using a selection, layer masks begin theirlives as completely white. The reason a newly created layer mask doesnot appear to have any visible effect on the image is that the colorwhite indicates visible areas of the image. It's only when you beginpainting on the mask that the image changes. You create transparencyin the image by painting in shades of gray. The deeper the shade ofgray, the more transparent the image. Painting the mask with pureblack produces 100%image transparency. Any of Photoshop's drawingor painting tools can be used to create a mask. In fact, you could evenuse the Custom Shape drawing tools and create a mask in the shape ofa rubber duck. The trick is to use the right tools to create the righteffect. For example, using a hard-edged brush creates an image withsharp edges and using a soft-edged brush creates an image where thevisible edges of the image blend smoothly with transparent elements.

Using Selections toGenerate ComplexLayer Masks

Use Selections to GenerateMaskso Open a document.

• Select the areas of the image youwant to preserve.

• Select the layers panel.

• Click the Add layer Mask button.

Photoshop generates a layer maskbased entirely on your selection.

Did You Know?You can apply layer styles to a maskedimage. Create the mask, and then clickthe Add Layer Style button, located atthe bottom of the Layers panel. Thenuse any of Photoshop's layer styles,such as Drop Shadow, or Bevel andEmboss.The layer style will only beapplied to the visible portion of theimage.

See AlsoSee Chapter 4, "Mastering the Art ofSelection, " on page 83 for informationon selecting areas of an image usingdifferent tools.

Layer masks are easy to create; you select a layer and then click theAdd Layer Mask button. Unfortunately, when you create a mask thisway, it's up to you to define the transparent areas, using drawing orpainting tools. There is another way to generate a mask, and that's bymaking a selection first. When you click the Add Layer Mask button,Photoshop searches the document for any selected areas. If it doesn'tfind any, it creates a blank (all white) mask. However, if you first selectan area of the image, Photoshop interprets the selection as the areayou want to remain visible.

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Chapter 10 Creating Masks 265

Using Layer Masksto Generate SoftTransparency

Use Layer Masks forTransparency• Open a document.

• Create a selection around the areayou want to preserve.

o Select the Properties panel.o Click the Add Layer Mask button.o Drag the slider to select a FeatherRadius value (1 to 1000).Thegreater the value, the greater thefeathering effect.

o To refine the mask edges, clickMask Edge.o Select the Layers panel.

o Click the Add Layer Mask button.

The layer mask uses the Featheroption to soften the mask.

Did You Know?You can also use Gaussian Blur to cre-ate a soh transparency. Another wayto create a soft edge is to create ahard-edged mask from a selection, andthen visually create a softer maskusing a filter named Gaussian Blur.

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When you create a layer mask using Photoshop's selection tools, theedges of the image where transparency occurs appear as if cut out witha knife. This occurs because selection tools create hard-edged selec-tions, and then, when you create the layer mask, the edges appear asragged as the mask. To soften the edge of the selection boundary, youcan use the Feather option in the Masks Properties panel or Refine Edgedialog box, which you can also use to refine the mask edge. As youadjust the Feather value, the feather effect appears in the Documentwindow with a preview of the image. When you create the layer mask,the edges appear soft and feathered.

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Creating Unique LayerMask Effects

Create a Layer Mask Effecto Open a document.

o Click the layer in the Layers panelto which you want to apply aunique border.

o Create a rectangular selectionaround a portion of the image.

o Click the Add Layer Mask button.o Click the layer mask thumbnail.

o Click the Filter menu, and thenclick Filter Gallery.

o Click the Expand arrow next toBrush Strokes, and then click theSprayed Strokes filter.

o Adjust the filter options to changethe edge of the layer mask.

o Click OK.

Did You Know?You can apply more than one filter to alayer mask border. For example, usingthe Spatter filter creates a raggededge to the layer mask.Applying asmall amount of GaussianBlur to themask softens the effect and creates amore pleasing visual transitionbetween the mask and the back-ground.

Layer masks can create more than simple vignettes around an image.In fact, with the right filters you can create some very interesting andfun-looking borders. For example, when you create a selection usingone of Photoshop's standard selection tools-rectangle, ellipse, orlasso-the selection has a sharp, definable border. The secret to creat-ing unique borders is to create a general selection around a portion ofthe image you want to preserve, create the layer mask, and then usesome of Photoshop's creative filter effects, such as the Artistic orDistort filters on the mask. Using filters on the image mask createseye-catching borders and it's only a filter away.

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Chapter 10 CreatingMasks 267

Creating a VectorMask

Create and Work with a VectorMasko Open a document.

Select the Layers and Propertiespanel.

• Click the layer that will contain themask.

o Select the path or create a pathusing the shape or pen tools.o Click the Add Vector Mask buttonon the Layers or the Vector Maskbutton on the Properties panel.

o Click on the layer thumbnail tomodify or adjust the image.

o Click on the vector mask thumbnailto modify the mask using shapeand pen tools.

o To disable or enable the mask,Shift-click on the mask thumbnail,or select the layer, and then clickthe Disable/Enable Mask buttonon the Properties panel.o To view or hide the mask in thedocument window, Alt-click (Win)or Option-click (Mac) on the maskthumbnail.

CD To remove a layer mask, select thelayer, click the Vector Maskbutton, and then click the DeleteMask button on the Propertiespanel.

• To remove and apply the layermask, click the Apply Maskbutton on the Properties panel.

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A vector mask is a resolution independent object-such as a rectangle,circle, or custom shape or drawing-created with a pen or shape tool.The vector mask represents a changeable path that clips out the con-tents of the layer. You can create a vector mask by using options in theLayers or Properties panel. Like a layer mask, a vector mask appears asan additional thumbnail to the right of the layer thumbnail in the Layerspanel. which you can use to work with the mask.

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Modifying Layer andVector Masks

Modify a Layer or Vector Mask

o Open a document.

Select the Layers and Propertiespanel.

o To select the image layer or mask,click on the image thumbnail tomodify or adjust the image, or clickon the mask thumbnail to modify orpaint on the mask.o To unlink or link a mask from itslayer, click the Link button totoggle it.o To disable or enable the mask,Shift-click on the mask thumbnail,or select the layer, and then clickthe Disable/Enable Mask button inthe Properties panel.o To view or hide the mask in thedocument window, Alt+click (Win)or Option-click (Mac) on the maskthumbnail.o To remove a layer mask, select thelayer, click the Layer Mask orVector Mask button, and then clickthe Delete Mask button on theProperties panel.

• To remove and apply the layermask, click the Apply Maskbutton on the Properties panel.o To control the opacity (density) of

the mask and adjust the featheredge, drag the sliders on theProperties panel.

• You can also access layer maskoptions to select a color range,refine the mask edge, or invertthe mask.

After you create a layer or vector mask, you can use the Layers andProperties panels to modify it. Before you can work with a mask, youneed to select it. The quickest way is to select the thumbnail in theLayers panel; however, you can also use the Properties panel. You canmodify a mask several different ways, including unlink or link the maskand layer, viewing or hiding it. disabling or enabling it, removing it, oradjusting the mask.

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Chapter 10 Creating Masks 269

Modifying SelectionMasks

Modify a Selection Mask withthe Maximum Filter

Open a document.

• Select the layers panel.o Select the selection layer maskyou want to apply the filter.o Click the Filter menu, point toOther, and then click Maximum .

• Select the Preview check box toview the results in the documentwindow .

• Zoom. Click the Zoom In orZoom Out to preview in theMaximum Filter dialog box.

Click the Preserve list arrow(New!), and.then clickSquareness or Roundness.

o Drag the slid er to specify a Radiusvalue or enter a value in the box.You can specify a decimal value(New!) for the Roundness setting.o Click OK.

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If you want to modify a selection mask, you can use the Maximum andMinimum filters. The Maximum filter spreads out white areas andchokes in black areas (known as a choke), while the Minimum filterspreads out black areas and shrinks white areas (known as a spread).The filters look at individual pixels in a selection within a specifiedradius. Within the specified radius, the Maximum and Minimum filtersreplace the current pixel's brightness value with the highest or lowestbrightness value of the surrounding pixels. You can adjust the radiusvalue using whole or decimal values (New!) and specify whether topreserve square edges (known as squareness) or rounded edges(known as roundness) (New!) to achieve the results you want.

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Modify a Selection Mask withthe Minimum Filtero Open a document.

• Select the Layers panel.o Select the selection layer maskyou want to apply the filter.

• Click the Filter menu, point toOther, and then click Minimum.

• Select the Preview check box toview the results in the documentwindow.

• Zoom. Click the Zoom In orZoom Out to preview in theMinimum Filter dialog box.

o Click the Preserve list arrow(New!), and then clickSquareness or Roundness.o Drag the slider to specify a Radiusvalue or enter a value in the box.You can specify a decimal value(New!) for the Roundness setting.

• Click OK.

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Chapter 10 Creating Masks 271

Creating ChannelMasks

Create a Channel Masko Open an image and create aselection.

o Select the Channels panel.

Click the Create New Channelbutton .

• Select the new channel.

Select the Brush tool on thetool box, and then select a brushtip on the Options bar.

o Paint areas of the mask white tocreate a selection.

o Paint areas of the mask black tomask the image.

Did You Know?Youcan quickly convert a channelmask into a selection. Toview a chan-nel mask as a selection, open theChannels panel, and then Ctrl-click(Win) or ~+click (Mac) on the chan-nel. Photoshop instantly translates theblack, white, and gray areas of themask into a visible selection in thedocument window.

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The Channels panel serves three purposes-to hold color information,to hold spot color information, and to hold selections (channel masks).Creating channel masks can be as easy as clicking the Create NewChannel button and then using any painting or drawing tools to createthe mask, or by making a selection and converting the selection into amask by clicking the Save Selection As Channel button. When youpaint the channel mask, the defaults are-black for masked areas,white for selected areas, and shades of gray for percentages ofselection.

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Creating ChannelMasks from Scratch

Create a Channel Mask fromScratch

o Open an image.o Select the Channels panel.

o Click the Create New Channelbutton.o Click the Show/Hide button on thecomposite channel. The image isrevealed in the document window(the new Alpha channel shouldstill be selected). You will use theimage to guide the creation of themask .

• Select the Brush tool on thetoolbox.o Paint areas of the image usingwhite to create a selection(painting with white exposes theoriginal image).o Paint areas of the image black tomask the image (painting withblack masks the image with thedefault color of red).

o Click the Show/Hide button on thecomposite channel. The image ishidden, revealing just the mask.

o Repeat steps 6-8 until the mask iscomplete.

Channel masks are easy to create and once created, are just as easy tomodify. All you need is an open document, and access to the Channelspanel. After selecting a painting or drawing tool, you paint on the maskto define the selection area. The problem is you can't see the image;you can only see the mask. What you need is the ability to view themask and the image at the same time, as if you were using tracingpaper, and then use the drawing tools to paint (trace) the portions ofthe image you want to select. The secret to viewing the image as youcreate the mask is to temporarily enable or show, the composite chan-nel. In fact, the composite channel acts like a toggle switch-when it'svisible, you see the image and the mask (tracing paper); when it's hid-den, you only see the mask.

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Chapter 10 Creating Masks 273

Modifying ChannelMask Options

Create or Modify ChannelMasks Using Options

o Open a document.

Select the Channels panel.

o Click the Channels Options button,and then click New Channel tocreate a new channel or double-click an existing channel in theChannels panel.

Enter a name for the new channel.

Click the option to define the maskcolor as the Masked Areas orSelected Areas.

Click the Color box, and thenselect a color from the ColorPicker.

Enter an Opacity percentage value(0% to 100%)for the color.

Click OK.

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Did You Know?You can change the Channel optionsfor a preexisting channel. Double-clickon the channel, and Photoshopwillopen the Channeloptions dialog box.You can set Channel options for eachchannel. Changingthe Channeloptionsonly impacts that specific channel.Each channel can have its ownindividual settings.

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Channel masks have default options that control how the mask looksand functions. Photoshop gives you the ability to change the defaultoptions of a channel mask. For example, you could change the defaultcolor from red to blue, or you could change the function of the channelmask from Selection to Spot Color. Knowing you can change the maskoptions gives you more control over the final results.

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Creating ChannelMasks fromSelections

Create Channel Masks fromSelectionso Open a document.

o Create a selection using any ofPhotoshop's traditional selectiontools .

• Select the Channels panel.

• Click·the Save Selection AsChannel button.

Photoshop creates a new channelmask based on the selected areasof the document.

Creating channel masks from scratch (using brush and drawing tools)is a useful feature, and gives you the ability to create a mask in anydesired size or shape. However, there are times when it would be eas-ier to first define the areas you want to protect, and then create themask. When you create a channel mask from an existing selection,Photoshop uses the selected areas to create the mask. For example,you have an image of a woman wearing a red dress, and you want tochange the color of the dress to green. The first step would be to selectthe red dress. Rather than create a new mask, and paint out the arearepresenting the dress, it would be easier to first use a tool like theMagic Wand, select the dress, and then convert the selected area (thedress) into a channel mask. Once the mask is created, you could fine-tune the mask using Photoshop's painting tools, and then change thedress color. Whether you create a mask from scratch or choose to cre-ate one through a predefined selection depends on the image and whatyou're trying to accomplish.

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Chapter 10 Creating Masks 275

Making ChannelMasks from NativeCalor Channels

Make Channel Masks fromNative Calor Channelso Open a document.

Click the Channels panel.

Click and view the individual nativecolor channels one at a time.

oo Click the channel that best

represents a visual differencebetween what you want to selectand what you want to mask.

o Drag the selected channel overthe Create New Channel button.

Photoshop makes a copy of theselected native color channel.

o Click the native color channelcopy.

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Creating a channel mask from a native color channel takes a few steps;however, if you're successful, the effort spent making the selection iswell worth it. The trick to creating a mask with a native color channel isto use the shifts of gray in one specific color channel to create theblack and white areas characteristic of a typical channel mask. Forexample, you have an image of a model, and you want to remove themodel from the background. Unfortunately, that requires selectingaround the model's hair, a difficult thing to accomplish, even in the bestof circumstances. To make the channel mask, open the Channels paneland examine the native color channels, one at a time. You're looking fora color channel that displays a significant shift of gray (amount of con-trast) between the model's hair and the background. For example, youclick on the red channel of an RGB image and the model's hair appearsdark gray, while the background appears light gray. The difference is sopronounced you can actually see individual strands of hair standing outagainst the background. If you can find such a contrast, you canquickly make a channel mask.

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o Click the Image menu, point toAdjustments, and then clickThreshold.o Move the Threshold slid er left orright until you see a sharp blackand white image with the blackand white representing theselected and masked areas of theimage.

o Click OK.

G Use Photoshop's painting toolswith black and white to touch upthe new mask.

Did You Know?You can use native calor channelmasks to perform image correction.Channel masks created from nativecolor channels can be used for morethan creating a mask. For example, youhave a photo where the shadow por-tions of the image are too dark. Correctthe problem by creating a channelmask that selects just the darker por-tions of the image, and then use themask to control the Levels or Curvesadjustments to lighten the overexposedareas of the image.

Chapter 10 Creating Masks 277

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Loading ChannelMasks fromSelections

Load Channel Masks fromSelections

o Open a document that contains achannel mask, or create a newchannel mask.

o Click the Select menu, and thenclick Load Selection .

•• If more than one document isopen, click the Document listarrow, and then select thedocument you want to use.

o Click the Channel list arrow, andthen click the channel you want toconvert into a selection (nativecolor channels do not appear inthis list).

o Select the Invert check box toinstruct Photoshop to use theblack areas of the mask (instead ofthe white areas) for the selection.

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Once you create a channel mask (and you can have up to 28 separatemasks in one document). the next step is to use the masks. To save thechannel mask all you have to do is save the document in a format thatsupports channels, such as Photoshop's native PSD format, or eventhe TIFF format. The next time you open the document, your channelmasks will be there. Deleting a channel mask is simple; just drag thechannel mask over the Delete button located at the bottom of theChannels panel, or select the channel mask you want to delete, andclick the Delete button. However, sooner or later, you're going to wantto do more than just save or delete-you're going to want to use achannel mask. Using a channel mask involves a process of convertingthe mask back into a selection. It's an easy step, but necessary to com-plete the process from mask to selection.

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o Select the Operation option youwant to perform:

• New Selection. Creates a newselection.

• Add To Selection. Adds thechannel mask to an existingselection.

• Subtract From Selection. Usesthe channel mask to subtractfrom an existing selection.

• Intersect With Selection. Usesthe channel mask to intersectwith an existing selection.

o Click OK.

Did You Know?Youcan load a saved selection fromthe Channels panel. You can reuse apreviously saved selected by loading itinto an image.

- Drag the channel containing theselection you want to load onto theLoad Selection button.

- Ctrl-ctick (Win) or (Qij+click (Mac)the channel containing the selectionyou want to load.

- To add the mask to an existing selec-tion, press Ctrl-Shitt (Win) or (Qij+Shift(Mac), and then click the channel.

- To subtract the mask from an existingselection, press Ctrl+Alt (Win) or(Qij+Option (Mac), and then click thechannel.

- To load the intersection of the savedselection and an existing selection,press Ctrl+Alt+Shift (Win) or(Qij+Option+Shift (Mac), and then clickthe channel.

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For Your Information

Working with Channel MasksChannel masks provide control over the selected areas of an image.By default, the white areas of the mask represent the selectedareas, and the black areas represent the masked areas. When amask is applied to an image, the black and white areas of the maskcreate a very sharp-edged selection. To soften the effect of themask, click the Filter menu, point to Blur, and then click GaussianBlur. Apply a small amount of blur (one or two pixels) to the mask.Now, when the mask is applied to the image, the Gaussian blur willsoften the effects of the selection and create a visually softertransition.

Chapter 10 Creating Masks 279

Moving ChannelMasks BetweenDocuments

Move Channel Masks BetweenDocuments

o Open a document that contains achannel mask.

Open a second document (this isthe document you will move themask into).

o Position the two documentwindows side by side.

o Click the document containing thechannel mask.

Select the Channels panel.

o Drag the channel mask from theChannels panel into the opendocument window of the seconddocument.

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Once you create a channel mask in one document, it is possible tomove that channel mask to another document. While most channelmasks are so specific to a particular document it wouldn't be practicalto move them-a channel mask defining a selection of a specific treeagainst a blue sky, for example-many channel masks can be usedover and over again. For example, you might have a series of channelmasks creating unique selection borders around an image. You spent alot of time creating the borders, and you would like to apply those sameborder selections to other images. If that's the case, then increase yourefficiency by saving them as channel masks and moving them betweendocuments. Not only will it save you a lot of time, but using selectionsmore than once can add a sense of cohesiveness to a design.

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Combining ChannelMasks

Combine Channel Masks

o Open a document that containstwo or more channel masks.

Click the Channels panel.

Press Ctrl-click (Win) or ~+click(Mac) on one of the channelmasks.

The white areas of the channelbecome a selection.

o Press Shift-Ctrl-click (Win) orShift+ ~+click (Mac) on thesecond channel mask.

The white areas of the secondchannel mask are added to theprevious selection.o Click the Save Selection AsChannel button.

Photoshop takes the combinedareas of the two channels andcreates a new channel mask.

Channel masks are simply selections defined by black, white, andshades of gray. Once a channel mask is placed in the Channels panel,you can use Photoshop's vast array of drawing and painting tools orfilters. The Gaussian Blur filter can make a great enhancement to achannel mask. It's even possible to combine the selection elements oftwo or more channels together, and in doing so, create an even morecomplicated mask.

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Chapter 10 Creating Masks 281

Using the QuickMask Mode

Use the Quick Mask Modeo Open a document.

Create a selection using any of theselection tools.

o Click the Edit in Quick Mask Modebutton to convert the selection intoa red overlay mask (the buttontoggles to Standard mode).

• Select the Brush tool.

o Paint with white to open up moreselection areas.o Paint with black to mask theimage; the mask, by default, is red.

o Click the Edit in Standard Modebutton again to return to astandard selection (the buttontoggles to Quick Mask mode).

o Toggle between Quick Mask andStandard modes until you createthe perfect selection.

Did You Know?You can convert a Uuick Mask into apermanent Channel mask. CreatetheQuick Mask, return to Standard Mode,select the Channelspanel, and thenclick the Create Channel FromSelection button.

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Quick Mask mode gives you the ability to create a selection usingpainting and drawing tools without creating a channel mask. For exam-ple, you're creating a selection using traditional selection tools andthere's a portion of the image you're having difficulty selecting. Sincethis is a one-time selection, you don't want to go to the trouble of creat-ing a channel mask. The solution is to move into the Quick Mask mode.Quick Mask mode toggles between a normal (Standard) selection viewand a Quick Mask view. When you enter Quick Mask mode, any preex-isting selections are converted into a red mask, and changes to themask are performed using painting tools. When you return to Standardmode, the masked (painted) areas are converted into a selection. WhileQuick Masks are created the same way as channel masks, they're tem-porary. It's a quick way to create a one-time selection.

Working with QuickMask Options

Work with Quick Mask Optionso Double-click the Edit in OuickMask Mode or Edit in StandardMode button (the button togglesbetween Quick Mask mode andStandard mode) .

• Click the Masked Areas orSelected Areas option to instructPhotoshop whether to create amask or a selection from the colorareas of the mask.

o Click the Color box, and thenselect a color from the ColorPicker.o Enter an Opacity percentage value(0% to 100%).o Click OK.

IMPORTANT Quick Maskoptions are program specific, notdocument specific. The changesmade to the Quick Mask optionsremain set until you change them.

Did You Know?Once you've created a Quick Maskselection, you can save it as a perma-nent Channel mask. Just return thescreen to Standard mode, open theChannels panel, and then click theSave Selection As Channel button.

When you work in the Quick Mask mode, the color for the mask is red,the opacity of the mask is 50%, and the red mask represents themasked areas of the document. Photoshop uses these Quick Maskoptions as the default, but they can be modified. For example, it wouldbe very difficult to view a red mask if you were working on a primarilyred image, or you might want to increase or decrease the opacity of themask. Photoshop lets you do this through Quick Mask options.

For Your Information

Using Quick MasksOne of the powerful features of a Quick Mask is that you can use fil-ters directly on the mask. Create a selection in the Quick Maskmode, and then click the Filter menu and choose from Photoshop'smany filters, such as Brush Strokes, Blur, or Distort. When you clickOK, the filter is applied directly to the Quick Mask. Then, when youreturn to Standard mode, the effect of the filter is applied to theselection. Working with filters and Quick Masks gives you the optionof creating highly complicated masks without ever using theChannels panel.

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Modifying Selectionswith Quick MaskMode

Modify Selections withQuick Mask Mode

• Create a selection using any of theselection tools.

o Click the Default Colors button todefault your foreground andbackground painting colors toblack and white.o Click the Edit in Quick Maskbutton to enter Quick Mask mode.

By default the selected arearemains clear and the unselectedarea becomes masked with a50% red.o Select the Brush tool on thetool box.

• Refine the selection by painting onthe Quick Mask with white and/orblack. In Quick Mask mode,painting with black masks theimage using a 50% opacity red,and painting with white revealsthe original image.

o Click the Edit in Standard Modebutton to revert the image back toa normal selection marquee.o Continue to toggle back and forthbetween Edit in Quick Mask andEdit in Standard Mode until youachieve the desired selection.

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Photoshop represents an active selection using an animated, single-pixel wide marquee, sometimes referred to as a "marching ant" mar-quee. Typically, the enclosed or "marquee" area represents the workingarea of the document. Unfortunately, when selections become compli-cated, you could wind up with ants marching all over the screen. Whilecomplicated selections are a part of the Photoshop designer's life, theyshouldn't have to be hard to visualize or modify. Photoshop knows thisand created the Quick Mask option. When you're using Quick Mask,Photoshop displays the selected areas with a user-defined color andopacity. Then, by using your painting tools, you can make quick work ofmodifying the selection.

MaskedAreas