How to Add a Layer Mask in Photoshop
Open or create a Photoshop file., Click on the layer you want to mask., Select the area you wish to remain visible., Click on the "Add Layer Mask" icon., Save your changes.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Open or create a Photoshop file.
To do so, double-click on the blue app icon that contains the letters "Ps," then click on File in the menu bar at the top of the screen, and:
Click on Open... to open an existing document; or Click on New... to create a new document. -
Step 2: Click on the layer you want to mask.
The layers window is in the lower-right part of the app. , To do so, use:
A Marquee Tool to select a larger area that doesn't require fine edges. (The Marquee Tool is the dotted-line icon near the top of the Tool Menu.
Long-click on the Marquee Tool to reveal all of the Marquee Tools in a drop-down menu); or A Pen Tool to outline the edges of a finer shape, like individual flower petals. (The Pen Tool is the fountain-pen nib icon above the T in the Tool Menu.
Long-click on the Pen Tool to reveal all of the Pen Tools in a drop-down menu). , It's a light gray rectangle that contains a dark gray circle at the bottom of the "Layers" window.
If you used a Pen Tool to draw the selection, click on the icon one more time, after the label changes to "Add Vector Mask."
To do so, click on File in the menu bar, then Save in the drop-down. -
Step 3: Select the area you wish to remain visible.
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Step 4: Click on the "Add Layer Mask" icon.
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Step 5: Save your changes.
Detailed Guide
To do so, double-click on the blue app icon that contains the letters "Ps," then click on File in the menu bar at the top of the screen, and:
Click on Open... to open an existing document; or Click on New... to create a new document.
The layers window is in the lower-right part of the app. , To do so, use:
A Marquee Tool to select a larger area that doesn't require fine edges. (The Marquee Tool is the dotted-line icon near the top of the Tool Menu.
Long-click on the Marquee Tool to reveal all of the Marquee Tools in a drop-down menu); or A Pen Tool to outline the edges of a finer shape, like individual flower petals. (The Pen Tool is the fountain-pen nib icon above the T in the Tool Menu.
Long-click on the Pen Tool to reveal all of the Pen Tools in a drop-down menu). , It's a light gray rectangle that contains a dark gray circle at the bottom of the "Layers" window.
If you used a Pen Tool to draw the selection, click on the icon one more time, after the label changes to "Add Vector Mask."
To do so, click on File in the menu bar, then Save in the drop-down.
About the Author
Lisa Ferguson
Committed to making cooking accessible and understandable for everyone.
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