Masking in Photoshop

Masking or Layer Mask in Photoshop

Hey Guys,
Hows your day today? Good? Yes, I hope so..
Okay, now i will explain to you about Masking or Layer Mask in Photoshop.
Before beginning, Have you known about Masking before?

Okay, I will explain to you.
Masking or Layer Mask is covering some of the picture that you want to hide with the Black color, and you can show it again with cover it with the White color. It’s like to erase some of that picture, but not permanently. Yah, of course. It resembles like eraser tool. But It has difference. The difference is eraser tool erases the picture permanently, but Masking or Layer Mask just hide it and you can show it again later.

Ok, Let’s go to the example.

Here we have 2 layers. The First is the Background, and Second is the text layer that is written “Rio Andrew”. In this case, we want to hide some of text layer. Ok, we’ll begin. Look at the Layer Pallete, and select the text layer, like this picture.

After selecting the text layer, klick Add Layer Mask icon. I’ve sign it with red pen on that picture. Just do it, and the text layer will be like this.

Next, choose Brush Tool on the tool box, then reset the background and foreground color. Just press D, and press X on your keybord. So that, it becomes like this :

Why must it be Black and White?
Ya, because that’s the key. Black Color is to hide your picture, and the white is to show it again. Then, wipe the text layer with the Brush Tool. And the text layer will be hide. And Remember ! Your foreground color must be Black now. Try to make line on the text like this.

And now, look at the text layer.

There is the Black line on the layer, and that line cover your image. So some of your image that is covered by the line will be hide.

Okay, that’s all our topic today. So far so good? I hope so.. And the adventage of Masking is “if you close your file, and you open it again later, you can repair or show your image again with cover it with the white color. So easy, right?

This case can be applicated in megazine cover, like this.

Look at the Text above (Kesetiaan Cinta) of that picture, Some of the text is covered by the head of the model. So, just wipe the text (Cinta) with the black color as big as the head of the model. So nice..
Ok, that’s it. Good Luck, United Designers..!

Thx to the model : Davied Hutahaean and Kristin Purba