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How Do I Mask an Image in Photoshop?

Last updated on September 23, 2022 @ 8:52 pm

When it comes to digital image editing, there are a number of ways to mask an image. In Photoshop, one of the most popular methods is to use the Lasso Tool. To do this, simply select the Lasso Tool from the Tools palette, and then click and drag around the area of the image that you want to mask.

As you do this, you’ll see a marching ants selection border appear. Once you have the selection border in place, you can then inverse the selection by going to Select > Inverse, or by pressing Shift+Command+I (Mac) / Shift+Ctrl+I (PC). This will put a selection border around everything BUT the area that you originally selected.

Now that you have a selection border in place around the area that you want to mask, you can add a layer mask. To do this, make sure that the layer that you want to mask is selected in the Layers palette, and then click on the Add Layer Mask icon at the bottom of the palette. This will add a white layer mask thumbnail to the selected layer, indicating that everything on that layer is currently visible.

If you now paint over part of the layer with a black brush, you’ll see that those areas become masked. In other words, they become hidden from view. You can use this technique to create all sorts of interesting effects, such as making part of an image appear to fade away, or adding a vignette effect.

To remove a layer mask, simply click on the layer mask thumbnail in the Layers palette and drag it onto the trash can icon at the bottom of the palette.

Masking an image in Photoshop is a great way to create all sorts of interesting effects. By using a combination of the Lasso Tool and layer masks, you can easily control which parts of an image are visible and which are hidden.

In conclusion, there are many ways to mask an image in Photoshop. One popular method is to use the Lasso Tool in conjunction with layer masks. This allows for precise control over which parts of an image are visible and which are hidden.

PRO TIP: Please be aware that the ‘How Do I Mask an Image in Photoshop?’ tutorial on the website may contain outdated or inaccurate information. We suggest that you use caution when following any of the steps outlined in this tutorial.
Dale Leydon

Dale Leydon

Sysadmin turned Javascript developer. Owner of 20+ apps graveyard, and a couple of successful ones.