Photoshop Effects for Portrait Photographers

A Short Course in Layer Masks

Perhaps the two scariest words in Photoshop, “Layer Mask,” should be no cause for alarm. It is simply a tool to work between an active layer and the layer below.

When I began teaching the techniques in this book, I deliberately avoided using Layer Masks because my audience, for the most part, simply did not understand them and were too afraid to try them in the time we had together. The mere mention of the words elicited groans and whimpers of the sort you, as a college student, might have uttered upon learning your Literature assignment for tomorrow was the first half of Moby Dick.

So, let me give you the short course in how they work. I know that if you play with the concept, even a little bit, you’ll get the hang ...