Photo masking is a technique used in graphic design and image editing to selectively hide or reveal parts of an image. It involves creating a mask, which is essentially a grayscale image that determines the transparency levels of different areas of the original image. The mask is then applied to the image to control which parts are visible, partially visible, or hidden.
Layer Masking:
- Description: In graphics software like Adobe Photoshop, layer masking involves creating a mask on a specific layer to control the visibility of that layer's content.
- Use Cases: It's commonly used for non-destructive editing, allowing you to hide or reveal portions of an image without permanently altering the original.
Clipping Mask:
- Description: A clipping mask is created by using one layer to determine the transparency of another layer beneath it. The visible portions of the bottom layer are constrained to the shape of the top layer.
- Use Cases: It's useful for creating complex shapes or text effects.
Alpha Channel Masking:
- Description: An alpha channel is a separate channel in an image that stores information about the transparency of each pixel.
- Use Cases: It's often used in applications like video editing or when working with images that need to retain transparency information.
Hair Masking:
- Description: Hair masking is a specialized technique used to mask out complex and intricate details such as hair or fur in an image.
- Use Cases: Commonly applied in portrait or fashion photography where retaining fine details is crucial.
