WORKING WITH LAYER MASKS
Here are some useful tips with regard to working with masks on the layers panel.
1. DISABLING A MASK
Shift-Click on a layer mask, to disable it. Shift-click again, to re-enable it.
2. DUPLICATING A MASK
Hold down Alt (PC) or Opt (Mac) and drag a layer mask onto another layer, to duplicate it. Hold down Shift-Alt (PC) or Shift-Opt (Mac) and drag a layer mask onto another layer, to duplicate an inversed copy of it.
3. ADDING A VECTOR MASK DIRECTLY
To add a vector mask, most users click twice on the "Add Layer Mask" button. To add a vector mask without adding a layer mask first, hold down Shift-Alt-Ctrl (PC) or Shift-Cmd-Opt (Mac) and click on the add mask button. You can then draw a vector shape on the mask.
4. ADDING A MASK WITH BLACK COLOR
Alt-click (PC) or Opt-click (Mac) on the "Add Layer Mask" button on the layers panel, to add a mask filled with black color
5. SHOWING THE MASK IN GRAYSCALE
Alt-click (PC) or Opt-click (Mac) on the mask thumbnail to show only the grayscale mask. Repeat to reveal the layer again (or click the eyeball icon).
6. SHOWING THE MASK IN RUBYLITH
Shift-Alt-click (PC) or Shift-Opt-click (Mac) on the mask thumbnail to show the mask in rubylith color (double click the mask thumbnail to change the rublith color and its opacity).
7. SELECTING THE UNMASKED AREAS
Ctrl-click (PC) or cmd-click (Mac) on a mask thumbnail to select the unmasked areas
8. UNLINKING THE MASK FROM THE LAYER
Click on the chain icon between the layer and mask thumbnails to unlink the mask from the layer. This way you can use the Move tool and move the layer or the mask independently
9. INVERTING THE MASK
Click on the layer mask and press Ctrl-I (PC) or cmd-I (Mac) to inverse the mask
10. ADDING TO AN EXISTING SELECTION
To add the (unmasked) layer pixels to an existing selection, Ctrl-Shift-click (PC) or cmd-Shift-click (Mac) on the mask thumbnail
11. SUBTRACTING FROM AN EXISTING SELECTION
To subtract the layer pixels from an existing selection, Ctrl-Alt-click (PC) or cmd-opt-click (Mac) on the mask thumbnail
12. INTERSECTING WITH AN EXISTING SELECTION
To load the intersection of the layer pixels and an existing selection, Ctrl-Alt-Shift-click (PC) or cmd-opt-Shift-click (Mac) on the mask thumbnail
Here are some useful tips with regard to working with masks on the layers panel.
1. DISABLING A MASK
Shift-Click on a layer mask, to disable it. Shift-click again, to re-enable it.
2. DUPLICATING A MASK
Hold down Alt (PC) or Opt (Mac) and drag a layer mask onto another layer, to duplicate it. Hold down Shift-Alt (PC) or Shift-Opt (Mac) and drag a layer mask onto another layer, to duplicate an inversed copy of it.
3. ADDING A VECTOR MASK DIRECTLY
To add a vector mask, most users click twice on the "Add Layer Mask" button. To add a vector mask without adding a layer mask first, hold down Shift-Alt-Ctrl (PC) or Shift-Cmd-Opt (Mac) and click on the add mask button. You can then draw a vector shape on the mask.
4. ADDING A MASK WITH BLACK COLOR
Alt-click (PC) or Opt-click (Mac) on the "Add Layer Mask" button on the layers panel, to add a mask filled with black color
5. SHOWING THE MASK IN GRAYSCALE
Alt-click (PC) or Opt-click (Mac) on the mask thumbnail to show only the grayscale mask. Repeat to reveal the layer again (or click the eyeball icon).
6. SHOWING THE MASK IN RUBYLITH
Shift-Alt-click (PC) or Shift-Opt-click (Mac) on the mask thumbnail to show the mask in rubylith color (double click the mask thumbnail to change the rublith color and its opacity).
7. SELECTING THE UNMASKED AREAS
Ctrl-click (PC) or cmd-click (Mac) on a mask thumbnail to select the unmasked areas
8. UNLINKING THE MASK FROM THE LAYER
Click on the chain icon between the layer and mask thumbnails to unlink the mask from the layer. This way you can use the Move tool and move the layer or the mask independently
9. INVERTING THE MASK
Click on the layer mask and press Ctrl-I (PC) or cmd-I (Mac) to inverse the mask
10. ADDING TO AN EXISTING SELECTION
To add the (unmasked) layer pixels to an existing selection, Ctrl-Shift-click (PC) or cmd-Shift-click (Mac) on the mask thumbnail
11. SUBTRACTING FROM AN EXISTING SELECTION
To subtract the layer pixels from an existing selection, Ctrl-Alt-click (PC) or cmd-opt-click (Mac) on the mask thumbnail
12. INTERSECTING WITH AN EXISTING SELECTION
To load the intersection of the layer pixels and an existing selection, Ctrl-Alt-Shift-click (PC) or cmd-opt-Shift-click (Mac) on the mask thumbnail
