Post by Lillias on Jul 29, 2022 18:02:47 GMT
This is by no means an in depth look at masks but just a few things I have learned along the way which may be of help to anyone dipping their toes into the layer mask world for the first time.
I can only speak for myself but when I discovered masks and started to learn how to use them it opened up whole new avenues for working with my pages.
I would say Clipping Masks and Layer Masks are the two foremost masking methods.
Masking allows you to show or hide details in an image and allows you to blend images together.
A White layer mask means the layer is 100% visible and a Black layer mask means the layer is 100%
I can only speak for myself but when I discovered masks and started to learn how to use them it opened up whole new avenues for working with my pages.
I would say Clipping Masks and Layer Masks are the two foremost masking methods.
Masking allows you to show or hide details in an image and allows you to blend images together.
A layer mask (black or white) can be added to any layer.
Hidden. The mantra being, Black conceals White reveals and masks allow you to work non-destructively.
To add a white layer mask
Select the layer to which you want to add the layer mask and click on the Add Layer Mask button at the top of the Layers Panel.
OR you can add said Layer Mask by going to Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All.
Using the Brush Tool with Black as the colour, will hide anything you brush over on your page.
To add a black Layer Mask
Select the layer to which you want to add the layer mask and holding down Alt (Windows) Opt (Mac) click on the Add Layer Mask button at the top of the Layers Panel
OR go to Layer > Layer Mask > HIde All.
Using the brush tool with White as the colour, will reveal anything you brush over on your page.
The best way to learn about layer masks is to experiment and play with them.
The following are some examples.
Select the layer to which you want to add the layer mask and click on the Add Layer Mask button at the top of the Layers Panel.
OR you can add said Layer Mask by going to Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All.
Using the Brush Tool with Black as the colour, will hide anything you brush over on your page.
To add a black Layer Mask
Select the layer to which you want to add the layer mask and holding down Alt (Windows) Opt (Mac) click on the Add Layer Mask button at the top of the Layers Panel
OR go to Layer > Layer Mask > HIde All.
Using the brush tool with White as the colour, will reveal anything you brush over on your page.
The best way to learn about layer masks is to experiment and play with them.
The following are some examples.
First Example - How to use a Clipping Mask.
A clipping mask is just a shape which when clipped to an image defines the shape of that image. It can be plain or ornate.
You can clip papers or text or whatever you like to a clipping mask, not just photos.
The image for this example comes from Pexels and the mask is my own.
The kit used for the page is ‘Awakening’ by Tiramisu Designs.
A clipping mask is just a shape which when clipped to an image defines the shape of that image. It can be plain or ornate.
You can clip papers or text or whatever you like to a clipping mask, not just photos.
The image for this example comes from Pexels and the mask is my own.
The kit used for the page is ‘Awakening’ by Tiramisu Designs.
Second Example - One way to create a layer mask.
The image is from Pexels.
The image is from Pexels.
Third Example - This page of Forest Ponies incorporates both of the aforementioned examples. The background image being clipped to a shape and the images of the horses having been selected and extracted from the original images by adding the layer mask.
Images from Pixabay, and Unsplash. The shape is from ‘Hinge FotoBlendz Selection’ by Anna Aspnes.
Images from Pixabay, and Unsplash. The shape is from ‘Hinge FotoBlendz Selection’ by Anna Aspnes.
Fourth Example - Used a Black mask to blend images together.
The images are from morguefile and the Background is by Jai Johnson.
Fifth Example - Using Brayered Masks. As you can see one of the masks is dense and another has a lot of transparency in it. An image clipped to this kind of mask will only show through properly in the dense parts of the mask.
You can add density to the mask by using a brush with black directly on the mask in the layers panel.
You can add density to the mask by using a brush with black directly on the mask in the layers panel.
Masks by French Kiss Connections and image from morguefile.
For more in depth tutorials on using Masks with Textures and Using and Embellishing Masks see the links below.
Hopefully this will be enough to get you started with Masks and once you start you won’t look back.
