How Does an Image Mask Work?
Image masking is a very popular and common technique of image editing. Especially at the professional level, the usage of image masking is essential and crucial because it helps to manipulate any images or modify an area of an image.
In order to mask an image, you need to have some sort of creative photo editing skills, or else you will not be able to do that. You can also seek help from an image masking service to assist you.
In this writing, we are going to know how does an image mask work. So keep reading to learn more.
What Exactly is Image Masking?
Generally speaking, image masking is a process of photo editing where it helps to hide and reveal some portion of an image. It is also known as a non-destruction photo editing technique. It is very common and plays a very crucial role in the graphics design field.
Because it is also a very useful and effective way to manipulate your image, you can also make your photo look more creative by image-making. However, there are different types of image masking in Photoshop software. Some of them are mentioned in the following:
- Layer Masking:
This is a very popular type of photo masking. In this photo masking, you can easily change or modify the visibility of the photo layer. You can also remove or partially visible any portion of your photo. If any portion of that photo is painted with black color, you can use that portion of your photo as a transparent.
By layer masking, you can also make any portion of the photo visible. If you can paint your photo with a greyscale color, then you will get a partially transparent photo. The transparency will depend on the brush that you are using. If you can use a softer brush, the edges of the photo will be smoother.
- Clip Masking:
Clip masking is usually used for determining the visibility of the layer. This is also a very useful form of photo masking. In order to do that, you need to place an extra layer at the bottom of the layer you want to work with. From the bottom layer, you can adjust the transparency of the above layer.
If you are a beginner-level editor, it may seem very confusing and difficult for you. For that reason, you can always compare between the two layers. It will really make your work easier. Additionally, when you paint the photo with a black mask, the photo pixel with being invisible. Now you can work with it easily and more conveniently.
- Alpha Channel Masking:
This type of image masking is very useful when you need to remove the background of any image. You can do alpha channel masking in various ways. But this image masking is a bit more complicated than masking another image. When you mask a human or carton portrait, you need to work with the detail part.
Sometimes, you may need to work with the hair and furry areas. And this is one of the complex parts of the Alpha channel masking. There is also an easier way to do that. When you make a duplicate copy of your image, the entire task will be much easier than before.
How Does Photo Masking Work?
Generally, photo masking is a non-destructive photo editing technique where you can edit and fine-tune your photo without changing the main part of the photo. Sometimes, you may need to eliminate some unwanted portions of the photo without changing the main photo.
By masking the photo, you are able to do that very easily. Fine-tuning of a photo becomes much more convenient with the photo masking technique. Sometimes, you also may have to extend the photo for some reason. You can also do that by using the photo masking technique without changing the main photo.
Do You Really Need a Photo Masking Service?
Whether you need a photo masking service or not, it will completely depend on you and your case. But before answering this question, you need to know why do you need photo masking? Well, you may need photo masking for various purposes. Some of them are mentioned as follow:
- Modify a Portion of Your Picture:
As you have known, no picture is a perfect picture. Sometimes, you may need to eliminate or add a portion of an image or fine-tune it for various reasons. In some cases, you also may need to transparent the photo—all of those things you can do with the help of photo masking.
You can also adjust the color, brightness, and exposure correction by the photo masking. In short, you can do all types of photo modification by using photo masking.
- Make a Photo Transparent:
One of the most common reasons why people prefer photo masking is to make their photos invisible or transparent. For example, you have a photo with blue sky or other unwanted backgrounds. But you need a neat and clean photo.
In such cases, you can eliminate the background of that photo by using photo masking. Photo masking will create another layer of your photo, by which you will get a completely transparent version of your photo.
- Replace the Background of Your Photos:
The process of making a transparent background is much more similar to the process of replacing the background. Sometimes you may need to replace the background with something that is very eye-catchy or attention-grabbing.
Especially when you need to work with some product photograph, this is a very useful feature that you can use. Firstly, you need to remove the background, then you have to replace it with your desired background.
Bottom Line:
These days, a photo editing service can help you in various ways. And a photo or image masking photo editing is one of them. For professional photographs or product photographs, this is a very useful photo editing technique.
With a solid foundation in technology, backed by a BIT degree, Lucas Noah has carved a niche for himself in the world of content creation and digital storytelling. Currently lending his expertise to Creative Outrank LLC and Oceana Express LLC, Lucas has become a... Read more