Photoshop Elements / Layers /
Masking /
1 - Example
Masks allow you to apply a change to only a portion of a photograph.
With Photoshop, you create a mask layer.
With Photoshop Elements, you use the mask that's in every adjustment
layer.
In the Levels adjustment layer below, the white thumbnail is
the mask.
Only the Mask
In some situations, you use the adjustment layer only for its
mask.
For example, in the
Selective
Sharpening tutorial, the mask in a Hue/Saturation adjustment
layer is used.
The mask is used to block sharpening on a portion of a photograph.
There was no change made to the color with the Hue/Saturation
adjustment layer.
Mask + Adjustment
In other circumstances, you make a change with an adjustment
layer, and then use a mask to apply the change to only part of the
photograph.
In the example below, a Levels adjustment layer is used to brighten
a photograph.
Then, a mask is used to limit the increase in brightness to only
a portion of the photograph.
Example
As often happens in photography, it's hard to get much contrast
on the same photograph.
In the photograph below, the exposure made the clouds
look good.
However, the foreground is too dark.
Original
In the photograph below, a Levels adjustment layer was
used to brighten the photograph.
The foreground is brighter now.
But, the blue sky is less intense, and the clouds have lost some
drama.
Brightened
By using a mask, the brightening can be confined to the foreground
only.
The sky and clouds are not brightened.
Be sure to check off as you go along.
Make a Mask
1) Make sure
the adjustment layer is active (highlighted).
You have already made a correction using the adjustment layer.
2) Make sure
the foreground color is set to black.
Press x to cycle between the foreground and background colors.
If the colors are not black and white, press d.
3) Select the
Brush tool.
If you haven't already done so, go to
Brushes - Basics.
Use a brush with
feathering.
4) Paint on your
photograph.
Where you paint with black, the foreground color, the effect
of the adjustment layer is concealed.
Here, the sky and clouds were painted with black.
This blocked the brightening created by the Levels adjustment
layer.
You can see the mask in the mask thumbnail in the Levels adjustment
layer below.
Compare
Here's the original, the version that was brightened everywhere,
and the masked version.
Original
Brightened Everywhere
Sky & Clouds Masked (No Brightening)
Foreground Brightened
White Reveals; Black Blocks
White reveals; black blocks.
Use the above mnemonic to remember how the color of a mask affects
how it functions.
Tutorial for the Above Example
Go to Combine
Two Exposures - Using Levels & a Mask.
More Examples of Masking
Layer Masking
Mixed Colored Light Sources
Selective
Sharpening
Skin Tone Spot Correction Method
Spot Color
