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120 ULEAD PHOTOIMPACT USER GUIDE
Masking is particularly useful for selecting portions of the image that are not
distinguishable from the background. A typical use for the Mask Mode is to select
portions of images that you cut out and paste into another image to create a
collage. Also, since Mask Mode has transparency options, it lets you blend more
effectively one image object with another.
Note: Mask Mode can only be used with RGB and 8-bit Grayscale images.
Mask Mode basically operates on a Grayscale buffer, which means that you make
selections based on tonal values of the Grayscale. When in Mask Mode, you will
only be able to access Grayscale values in the color palette. Each tonal value in the
grayscale buffer represents a combination of two things: degree of
transparency and selection area status. Selecting white results in 0% selection
transparency, while black results in 100% transparency (meaning that there's no
selection). A gray value represents partial selection, or a selection with partial
transparency. Keep in mind that when you paint on the mask itself, areas that you
paint with black will become the default white mask, while areas that you paint on
with white will completely penetrate the mask to reveal the image underneath.
To use Mask Mode:
1. Open an image in the workspace.
2. Select Edit: Mask Mode
click Mask Mode in the Status Bar, or
click Enter Mask Mode in the Layer
Manager. By default, a semitransparent
red layer appears, covering the entire
image. This means that you are now
working in a Grayscale mask mode.
Note: You can always make a selection area
first, then click Mask Mode. This is
useful if the image is large and you
only want to mask a small portion of
it.
3. Choose a Selection, Paint, or Fill Tool
to modify the mask. Let's say you click
the Paint Tool and select Paintbrush.
Adjust the attributes of the brush in the
Tool Settings panel.
4. On the Attribute Toolbar, pick a color for the brush. Notice that only Grayscale
values are available. Selecting black means that you will add to the mask, thus
[
Ctrl+K],
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