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Layer masks

  1. Photoshop Elements User Guide
  2. Introduction to Photoshop Elements
    1. What's new in Photoshop Elements
    2. System requirements | Photoshop Elements
    3. Workspace basics
    4. Guided mode
    5. Making photo projects
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  9. Working with selections
    1. Make selections in Photoshop Elements
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  10. Working with layers
    1. Create layers
    2. Edit layers
    3. Copy and arrange layers
    4. Adjustment and fill layers
    5. Clipping masks
    6. Layer masks
    7. Layer styles
    8. Opacity and blending modes
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    4. Creating Photo Reels
  12. Saving, printing, and sharing photos
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    5. Optimizing images for the JPEG format
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    7. Guided Edits - Share panel
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    10. Optimizing images for the GIF or PNG-8 format
    11. Optimizing images for the PNG-24 format
  13. Keyboard shortcuts
    1. Keys for selecting tools
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    9. Keys for the Color Swatches panel
    10. Keys for the Camera Raw dialog box
    11. Keys for the Filter Gallery
    12. Keys for using blending modes
    13. Keys for viewing images (expertmode)

About layer masks

Layer masks are resolution-dependent bitmap images that are edited with the painting or selection tools. A layer mask controls the visibility of the layer to which it is added. You can edit a layer mask to add or subtract from the masked region without losing the layer pixels.

A layer mask is a grayscale image, so areas you paint in black are hidden, areas you paint in white are visible, and areas you paint in shades of gray appear in various levels of transparency. You can use the paint brush or the eraser to paint over the mask.

Add a layer mask to an image

  1. To add a layer mask, select the part of the image that you want to show and click the Add Layer Mask button in the Layers panel.

    Note:

    A mask thumbnail linked with the layer thumbnail is added. This thumbnail represents the grayscale channel that is created when you add the layer mask.

 Adobe

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