A layer mask in Adobe Photoshop is needed to protect and hide selected areas of the image. In this way, it looks like an ordinary masquerade mask. Many tools from the rich arsenal of this graphic editor can be applied to the mask.
Instructions
Step 1
Layer masks are very handy for creating collages. Open the image that will become the background, then collapse it without closing it.
Step 2
Open the second picture. Hold Ctrl on your keyboard and click on the layer thumbnail to get a selection. Copy the image to the clipboard by pressing Ctrl + C.
Step 3
Restore the background image and paste the main image on a new layer with Ctrl + V. Click the Add layer mask button on the layers panel. A white mask icon will appear next to the image icon. This mask hides the bottom layer.
Step 4
Other tools can be applied to the mask. Select Gradient from the toolbar. On the property bar, select Linear from black to white and drag a gradient line from the edge of the picture to the center. To make a smooth transition between two images, brush the border with a soft brush, choosing different shades of gray.
Step 5
If you apply the Add layer mask button while holding down the Alt key, you get an inverted black mask that hides the image in the top layer. Use a white paintbrush to restore the drawing.
Step 6
If you need to make some elements of the image transparent, process them with a gray brush. Make sure you are on the layer mask and not on the image first.
Step 7
You can use the selection tools and layer mask together to hide unnecessary details in a drawing. Circle the desired fragment with tools from the L, M or P groups, then apply a layer mask to the image. Only the selected element will remain visible, the rest of the details will be hidden under the mask.
