Page 63 - CC2017_PS_Look_Inside

16. In the Layers panel, click the Add Layer Mask button. Note:
A layer mask is a map of areas that will be visible in the selected layer. The mask you
just created is a raster-based pixel mask, based on the active selection when you created A layer mask is basically
the mask. This is a non-destructive way to hide certain elements of a layer without an Alpha channel
permanently deleting pixels; you can edit or disable the layer mask at any time. connected to a specific
layer.

The layer mask thumbnail
shows the masked
(hidden) areas in black.
When the mask is linked to
the layer, the mask will move
along with the layer. You can
click this icon to unlink the
layer from its mask.

On the masked layer, pixels outside Add Layer Mask
the original selection are hidden. button
Note:
17. Control/right-click the mask thumbnail and choose Disable Layer Mask
from the contextual menu. In the Layers panel,
the Add Layer Mask
option is not available
if the Background layer
is selected. You can’t
apply a layer mask to the
You have to click the Background layer of a
mask thumbnail to file, so you first have to
open the contextual convert the Background
menu for the mask.
layer to a regular layer.

When you disable the mask, the background pixels are again visible. This is one of the
advantages of using masks — the background pixels are not permanently removed, they
are simply hidden.

When the mask is
disabled, the masked
pixels are visible.

A red X indicates that
the mask is disabled.

Project 1: Composite Movie Ad 73