GIMP 2.8 for Photographers

3 Using Masks and Layers—Painting, Filling, and Color Tools

3.1 Introduction to Masks and Selections

Masks and selections are two sides of the same coin. Whenever you select an image area for editing, you are, in fact, simultaneously laying a mask over the rest of the image. This mask serves to protect these areas from involuntary changes. (FYI: Editing refers to any kind of adjustment made to an image, including painting, copying, adding shapes or text, rotating, using filter effects, etc.)

The program works with the selection mode by default. If you’ve done the recommended exercises, you probably noticed that a dashed line of “marching ants” ...