- April 29, 2023
- by admin
- Photoshop
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Image masking is a process of graphics software like Photoshop to hide some portions of an image and to reveal some portions. It’s anon-destructive process of image editing. utmost of the time it enables you to acclimate and tweak the mask latterly if necessary. veritably frequently, it’s an effective and more creative way of image manipulation services.
Types of Image Masking
There are mainly three types of masking in Photoshop –
1. Layer Masking
The layer mask is the kind of masks human beings usually refer to when they speak about protecting in Photoshop. We can cover or divulge parts of the photos or we can alternate the opacity of the a range of parts of an photograph the usage of masking. If we trade the opacity of a layer from the layer panel’s opacity slider, the opacity of the entire photograph will be changed.
With the layer mask, we can trade the visibility of the layer. We can make any component absolutely invisible or in part visible. If we paint with black on the mask, that element of the photograph will be absolutely transparent. Meaning it will make seen the layer/s beneath. The picture will be in part obvious if we paint with any grayscale color, relying on the percent of grey we select for the brush. If we pick out a smooth brush, the part transformation will be smoother.
2. Clipping Mask
Clipping masks use one layer to decide the visibility or transparency of any other layer. For clipping masks we vicinity a layer at the backside of the layer we favor to observe the transparency. From this backside layer, we manipulate the visibility of the layer above. For the beginners, it may additionally appear a bit contradictory if they examine the conduct of the clipping masks with the layer mask. It may additionally appear like that clipping masks is working inversely in contrast to the layer mask.
In the case of the layer mask, we paint the use of black coloration on the masks to make the pixels of the layer invisible; however with the clipping mask, we are doing the opposite. The pinnacle layer will be opaque or seen if the backside layer has some pixels in that area. If the backside layer doesn’t have any pixels, the pixels on the pinnacle layer will be obvious or invisible.
3. Alpha Channel Masking
Every image has different attributes for cutting out operations like removing background. So different methods are needed to be applied. Different images require different approaches. Alpha channel masking is a bit complex way of doing masking. The above two types of masking are fairly simple. But when we need to mask out the hair and furry areas, it becomes very difficult and time-consuming to select those areas with just the brush strokes. If the object and the background have a sufficient amount of contrast, the alpha channel masking technique will be easier to apply.
In brief, to work with this method of masking, we use the channel palette to see which channel gives the most contrast. If it is the blue channel, we make a duplicate copy of that channel and apply the level on that to increase the contrast sufficiently. If required, we can paint over the inner portion of the new blue channel with black color to make it totally black. Then we make it inverse to make the white to black and the black to white. Next, we copy the channel and paste it into the layer tab to make a new layer. You can use the dodge and burn tools to make the edge portions more contrasting (making the edge fur/hair more black). Even, you have the option to apply “Color Decontaminate” from the Layer>Matting>Color Decontaminate menu. Sometimes you can get amazing results with this option. Before applying the color decontaminate process, it is safe to make a copy of the layer. Because it is a destructive process. This is just a brief description of Alpha Channel Masking to give you some idea. Now let’s see why we do need the masking.
Why Do We Need Image Masking?
It Is a Non-Destructive Technique
Masking is a non-destructive process. We can make adjustments later or fine-tune to our masks each time we want to. But if we erase the undesirable areas it is challenging for bringing these if we want these areas later in the method of photo editing. The identical is genuine if we reduce an object or component from the image-making route on them. We will no longer be in a position to consist of greater adjoining areas easily. Just if we prefer to conceal some place we’ve reduce out, it may additionally be feasible with the aid of the use of the covering technique. So it is very challenging to keep away from covering again, right?
Just to Hide and Show
As I referred to before, the easiest use of overlaying is to conceal and exhibit parts of pictures. We can provide a transition impact if we use a very gentle brush or gradient for masking. Sometimes, we can manipulate the transparencies of areas of a picture, like a very bright sky. If we prefer we can make a very brilliant sky location dimmer (making the region semi-opaque) simply through brushing the location with a grey color. Of course, there are different preferences to reap this, however this is the effortless and available method possibly you decide for.
To Modify an Area of a Picture
It is very frequent that you want to regulate an vicinity of the image. For example, you choose to exchange the coloration of the pinnacle garment of a model. You can make a masks by means of making that element visible. Then you can follow any form of adjustments you want; like coloration adjustment/correction, brightness/contrast adjustment, publicity correction, etc.
Making Collage Images
We can make interesting collage images using the masking technique. The possibilities of making collage images are really endless. We can make interesting effects using various photos and applying masking on them. Using soft brushes and gradients of gray will make the transitions smooth.
Any Photoshop technique has almost endless possibilities to manifest your imagination. So, do have image masking. Sometimes you can get the same result by employing different processes/techniques of Photoshop. It is up to you which method you are more fluent with or which method takes less time but produces the expected output. The choice is up to you. But image masking, without a doubt, is a useful and creative tool.
