tutorial on the principle and use of the mask in Photoshop

What is a mask? What's the use of masks? I've been asked a lot of these similar questions. I think, probably all Photoshop beginners to "mask" the word is very puzzled! They all think that the use of the mask is a very advanced learning =.=!? Perhaps if only to tell you that a large pile of mask definition, origin, classification of the professional terminology, it really will be dizzy and do not understand.

This lesson is made up of small series with the most simple way to let everyone understand and use the Mask bar!

What is a mask?

The masks are divided into clipping masks, path masks and layer masks. But everyone uses Photoshop is to make their own film more beautiful, so the layer mask is the most commonly used, I will mainly talk about the layer mask!

The Photoshop mask is grayscale, which converts different shades of gray to different transparency, and acts on the layer on which it is located, resulting in a corresponding change in the transparency of different parts of the layer. Black is completely transparent and white is completely opaque.

So why use a mask instead of directly adjusting transparency?

Because the mask can be likened to a layer of mist covering the glass. The thicker the fog, the window can not see anything, only a white one (said the mask filled with a blank); But any mist that erases a position on the glass can be seen clearly on the outside (which means that the mask is filled with black); Then if it is not clean, you can only vaguely see the outside (to indicate different gray values of different effects).

What's the effect of masking?

1. Easy to modify. Because history can only record 20 steps, not because of the use of eraser or stamp tools and so on, so that the picture can not return to the point.

2. You can use a grayscale image as a mask, so that the outline of the gray scale as a frame shape

3. You can use a variety of filters to make unexpected special effects oh (effect or ever-changing, it is important that we know a lot of practice and understand extrapolate)

Masks are mainly used for composition, so that the edge of desalination, so that the integration between the layers!

Probably about the principle of the mask know it, but still have to practice it will really understand!

(detailed basic steps I do not have to repeat the screenshot repeatedly)

Example 1:

Open a picture--Create a new layer (shift+ctrl+n)--fill (set foreground color to sky-blue, background color is white)--Filter (cloud effect, can be more than a few times until the cloud texture satisfied)--Add layer mask (the second button under the Layers panel)--Select the Mask, Pull the black and white gradient in the layer (mostly black below, the white gradient above, because the mask is black for transparency, white is opaque)--merge, Finish!

Original

(Effect chart)

Example 2:

Open a picture--Create a new layer (shift+ctrl+n)--fill white (or you can fill in other colors.

The effect may be more special, let's play your own creative bar-Select the mask, select a linear gradient, pull the effect in the layer (you can try the other gradient oh, there will be unexpected effect)--merge, complete!

Original

(Effect chart) Category:

• PS Getting Started Tutorial
• PS Mask Tutorial