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Photo Regions and Masks 297

Editing a Mask

In most cases you edit the mask by using the same mask tools described above. But the
shapes that make up a mask are actually just ordinary shapes placed on a special ‘Mask’
layer, so in some cases it may be useful to edit the shapes on that layer. Use the PAGE &
LAYER GALLERY to access the mask layer. This is useful for the fine detail editing of mask
shapes, or if you want to move the position of a mask, or else to create a soft mask.

1. Click on the selector tool and open the Page & Layer Gallery.
2. Click on the mask layer to unlock it.
3. Select the mask shape you wish to alter and reposition/resize the shape as
required.
4. Double click the shape to edit the shape using the SHAPE TOOL. Or if you created
the shape using the Rectangle Mask tool then a double click will enable editing with
the RECTANGLE TOOL. (ON PAGE 155)

Soft Masks

A soft mask is a mask that includes varying levels of masking, instead of consisting
simply of just masked parts and unmasked parts. For example part of an image may
have a 50% mask applied, so that a subsequently applied operation has only a 50%
effect on that part of the image. Or a mask shape could have a graduated mask that
smoothly graduates from 0% masking to 100% masking. If such a mask is then used with
the PHOTO ENHANCE TOOL to brighten the photo, the effect of the brightening would be
similarly graduated.

Creating a Soft Mask
You can create soft masks by applying the Transparency tool to your mask shapes on
the mask layer.

Having firstly created your mask shapes;

• Switch to the selector tool and open the Page & Layer Gallery
• Expand the page to view the layers and click on the Mask layer to make it active
• Click on the mask shape on the canvas and select the transparency tool
• Drag across the mask shape to create a linear graduated soft mask

Operations That Use A Mask

Cut, Copy, Delete

These operations are useful when used with masks, to cut pieces from photos, but you
can use them on any objects.