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Introduction to masks

Introduces masks.

Previous: Protect areas using masks

This feature is not available in SurfaceStudio.

A mask is way of protecting areas of an image layer from brushes, erasers, and from certain image layer operations (for example, clearing an image layer, blurring an image layer, and so on).

There are two types of mask layers: selection layer masks and paint layer masks. Global selection masks protect all image layers; paint layer masks only protect the specific paint layer.

Selection mask

The selection mask (indicated by in the Paint Layers window) is a special type of layer that sits above all other layers and acts as a mask for all image layers.

You usually use the selection mask to create a temporary mask that you do not wish to keep. Each time you make a selection (using a Paint > Select tool), the previous selection mask is lost. You also use the selection mask to cut or copy parts of an image.

When you create a mask by selecting a region, masked regions are indicated by a pink color.



Whenever you have an active selection, the selection mask is the only active mask. That is, any mask layers (see below) are temporarily disabled. To enable mask layers, you must clear the selection mask.

Note

StudioTools will automatically clear the selection mask when you paste a cut or copied image using Canvas > Paste image.

The selection mask layer is similar to an image layer.

Regions of the selection mask layer that contain paint are masked, and regions of the selection mask layer that do not contain paint are selected.

Most of the time you do not need to worry about the selection mask layer. You just select a region using the MagicWand or Marquee tool.

However, in some situations you may want to modify the selection by modifying the selection mask layer (for example, blurring, rotating, painting, and so on).

Mask layers

A mask layer is a way of creating a mask for a specific image layer. Once you create a mask layer, it will remain until you delete it.

When you create a mask layer, masked regions are indicated by a red color.



A mask layer can either contain paint or shapes.

A mask layer that contains paint is indicated by in the Paint Layers window and is similar to an image layer.

A mask layer that contains shapes is indicated by in the Paint Layers window and is similar to a shape layer.

Regions of a mask layer that contain paint or shapes are masked, and regions of a mask layer that do not contain paint or shapes are not masked.

Creating and using masks

There are several ways you can create a mask, including:

• Create a temporary mask by selecting a region
• Create a mask from an image file
• Create a mask by painting
• Create a mask from curves

You can perform the following operations on masks:

• Invert a mask
• Customize the mask display
• Disable or enable a mask
• Delete masks.

You can also perform most image layer operations on mask layers or on the selection layer, including:

• Name an image layer
• Import an image as an image layer
• Select an image layer
• Duplicate an image layer
• Move, scale, or rotate an image layer

You cannot move, scale, or rotate a mask layer that contains shapes.

• Flip an image layer horizontally or vertically

You cannot flip a mask layer that contains shapes.

• Arrange image layers
• Hide or show an image layer
• Change the opacity of an image layer
• Merge image layers
• Export an image layer
• Clear a canvas layer

You cannot clear a mask layer that contains shapes.

• Delete an image layer.

Next: Create a temporary mask by selecting a region

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