Photoshop/101basics/The Basics/Workspace/menubar/layer/layer menu/layermask

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Layer Mask

This part of the chapter is a little tricky, so you need to focus and follow what I�m about to tell you to see how layer mask work.

The first thing you should do is to bring any image inside your document, to do that go to file >> open and search for image. Now bring another image (different) using the same steps, the second image will open in a new document so use your move too 1 and drag the image to the document that contains the first image to document that contains the first image, it will be placed as a layer above the background. Now make sure that the layer of the second image is selected not the background, now go to menu bar >> layer mask. Now a sub-menu will appear. That sub-menu contains the options of the layer mask you�re about to create.

-The first option as you can see is reveal all , go ahead and click that, you didn�t see any changes on the image, it�s ok that means that you�re following up, look at the layer you created a mask on, now you can see the change that you made, next to the thumbnail of the image.

-Now you can see that a white thumbnail is linked to it.

-That�s the mask that you created. Now go a head and choose your brush toll from the tool box, select the color black for the brush, now go to the middle of the picture and draw a circle or any shape you like, you�ll see that you�re not drawing in the black color, instead you are revealing the background which is hidden under the mask. -You might be wondering what if I didn�t draw using the black color?? What will happen? Well to answer that question, undo the circle or the shape that you just drew, by using the key board shortcut ctrl+z for on e step backward or the key board shortcut ctrl+alt+z for more than one step backward.

-Make sure that the layer that contains the mask is selected, go to the tool box and select the brush tool, choose a color, let�s make it gray this time, go to the middle of the picture and draw the same shape you drew before. The effect is not as clear as using the black color for your brush, it�s a bit darker, so every time you choose a lighter color, the effect or the revealed image that is covered by the mask will be darker, to see that go ahead and undo the image that you drew and choose the white color for your brush and draw the image again, nothing will happen.

Now I think that the first option of the layer mask �reveal all� is clear.

-The second option in the layer mask command is Hide All, to see what that option does,

-choose the current document and do what you did exactly in the previous exercise

-bring two images in the same document, the first one is the background and the second one is a layer above the background.

-Select the layer then go to the menu bar, select layer and go to layer mask, now from the sub-menu choose hide all, the change in this exercise is noticeable.

-The image will disappear and you can only see the background now, if you look in the layer palette you�ll see that the layer is not deleted, it�s still there but it�s linked with a black thumbnail this time instead of black.

-Now to see the effect of that option choose the brush tool from your tool box, and choose the white color this time so it�s the exact opposite action that you did in the previous exercise.

-Now go to the middle of the picture and draw any image you want; now you can see that while drawing the hidden picture will start to appear.

-Note: in this exercise every time you choose a darker and not clear.

For the third option in the layer mask menu �Reveal Selection� -please do the steps you did in the previous exercises and bring two images in the same document one as a background and the other as a layer

-make sure that the layer is selected

-go to the tool box and choose the first tool on the top left which is the marquee tool, or the selection tool

-Click on the small arrow and hold to get a different marquee tools

-go ahead and select the elliptical marquee tool, you can choose any other tool but this will show a better result.

-Now put your pointer on the top left corner, click and drag to the bottom right corner, now you can see a selection in the shape of a circle covering most of the layer.

-Now go to the menu bar >> layer >> layer mask >> and select the third option in the menu, reveal selection.

-You can see now that all the unselected parts of the layer were removed and only the selected part remains visible.

-If you look at the layers palette you can see that the layer is linked to a thumbnail that contains a black background and a white circle in the middle, that�s the mask that you created.

-Now go to the tool box, select a brush and choose the color black for your brush, make sure that the layer that contains the mask is selected, now go and draw something inside the visible part of the layer or the circle that you see on the screen

-you can see that hidden picture under the circle appear, as explained in the previous examples if you select a lighter color, the effect will be darker and not clear.

-Now undo what you did by using the key board short cut ctrl+alt+z go

-choose the color white for your brush, make sure that the layer that contains the mask is selected

-draw something outside the circle, you can see now that the invisible parts of the picture is becoming visible again.

-You can use all these effects to do unlimited ideas in your projects.

For the fourth option in the layer mask menu Hide Selection -do exactly what you did in the previous exercise, bring two images in the same document, a background and a layer make the circular selection again one the layer -go to the menu bar >> layer >> layer mask >> and this time select the fourth option in the list (Hide Selection)

-now you can see that this time the selected area disappeared and unselected area remained visible.

-Now go to the tool box, choose the brush tool, select the white color for the brush and draw something in the invisible part of the layer, you can see that the invisible part of the layer is becoming visible again

-Now go ahead and choose the black color and draw on the visible part of the layer, you�ll notice that it will disappear.

-Now I think that the layer mask concept and how to use it is clear, you can use your imagination and use the masking command the way see best.

If you want to delete the mask that you created go to the menu-bar >> select layer >> go to layer mask then delete.

But if you are satisfied with the result instead of selecting delete, select apply.

Disabling the mask can be created in two ways. The first way to disable the mask is by going to layer >> layer mask > select disable. The second way is by going to the mask thumbnails press shift on your keyboard and click once more or do to layer >> layer mask and choose enable.

To unlink the mask from the layer palette, go and click on the link icon between the layer and the mask in the layer palette or you can go to the menu bar > layer >> layer mask >> unlink.