Masking Layers - Adobe 13101332 - Photoshop - Mac User Manual

Adobe Photoshop Help
Using Help | Contents
Editing adjustment layers or fill layers
Once you create an adjustment or fill layer, you can easily edit the settings, or dynamically
replace it with a different adjustment or fill type. You can also edit the mask of an
adjustment layer or fill layer to control the effect that the layer has on the image. By
default, all areas of an adjustment or fill layer are "unmasked" and, therefore, are showing.
(See "Creating and editing layer masks" on page
To edit an adjustment or fill layer:
1 Do one of the following:
Double-click the adjustment or fill layer's thumbnail in the Layers palette.
•
Choose Layer > Layer Content Options.
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2 Make the desired adjustments, and click OK.
Note: Inverted adjustment layers do not have editable settings.
To change the content of an adjustment or fill layer:
1 Select the adjustment layer or fill layer that you want to change.
2 Choose Layer > Change Layer Content and select a different fill or adjustment layer
from the list.
Merging adjustment layers or fill layers
You can merge an adjustment or fill layer several ways: with the layer below it, with the
layers in its own grouped layer, with the layers it is linked to, and with all other visible
layers. You cannot, however, use an adjustment layer or fill layer as the target layer for a
merge. When you merge an adjustment layer or fill layer with the layer below it, the
adjustments are rasterized and become permanently applied within the merged layer.
(See "Merging layers" on page
(See "Rasterizing layers" on page
Adjustment layers and fill layers whose masks contain only white values do not add
significantly to the file size, so it is not necessary to merge these adjustment layers to
conserve file space.

Masking layers

You can use masks to protect sections of layers from being edited and to show or hide
sections of an image.
About masking layers
Masks control how different areas within a layer or layer set are hidden and revealed. By
making changes to the mask, you can apply a variety of special effects to the layer without
actually affecting the pixels on that layer. You can then apply the mask and make the
changes permanent or remove the mask without applying the changes.
There are two types of masks:
Layer masks are bitmap images and are resolution-dependent and are created with the
•
painting or selection tools.
(Photoshop) Vector masks are resolution-independent and are created with the pen or
•
shape tools.
Using Help | Contents
| Index
293.) You can also rasterize a fill layer without merging it.
292.)
| Index
315.)
Using Layers
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