User Guide

Using Layers and Layer Masks258
2 Choose Layers menu > Enable
Layer Mask.
To apply a layer mask:
1 Select a layer mask.
2 Choose Layers menu > Apply
Layer Mask.
To load a layer mask to a
selection:
1 On the Layers palette, select a layer
that has a layer mask.
2 Control+click the layer mask icon
(Mac OS) or right-click the layer
mask icon (Windows), and choose
Load Layer Mask to Selection.
Editing Layer Masks
When you select a layer mask, you can
edit it as you do a channel. You can
paint in a layer mask; apply effects to
it; fill it with a color, pattern, gradient,
or weave; and feather it. You do not
have to view a layer mask to edit it;
you can select the layer mask, make
changes to it, and view the resulting
image immediately.
For information about editing layer
masks, refer to “Editing Channels” on
page 225.
A layer mask before and after feathering
When you edit a layer mask, you are
making modifications to the mask,
and not to the layer’s image. You can
use shades of gray only; no colors are
available. This is because the layer
mask is a grayscale image, separate
from the RGB image.
The paint and effects you apply to a
layer mask are reflected as follows:
• Applying white removes from the
mask, which reveals more of the
layer.
• Applying black adds to the mask,
which conceals more of the layer.
• Applying an intermediate gray
value makes the mask semi-
transparent.