âĄPHOTOSHOP LAYER MASK TUTORIALâĄ
This is part 1 of 2 of my mask tutorials for photoshop. This tutorial will talk about layer masks. This can be done with any shape you choose.
Step 1. Start off with you sim on one layer and your background on another layer.
Step 2. Create a new layer by click the ânew layerâ icon at the bottom of the layers windows. Now choose your rectangle tool (or any shape you choose). Make sure the âFill Pixelsâ option is selected at the top. Drag to create your shape.
Step 3. You can add a color or gradient overlay and a drop shadow if you want, but this is not required.
Step 4. Press your CTRL key (Command if you use MAC) and click the little thumbnail with your shape(s) on it. The shape(s) should now be selected.
Step 5. With the shape(s) still selected, click on your sim layer. Then click the âadd layer maskâ icon. It will automatically apply the selection. The mask is the black and white thumbnail.
Step 6. This part is important. There is a little link between the layer and mask. In order to move your sim or mask separately, you need to unclick it. I usually have them unlinked until I am done moving things around.
Step 7. In step 5 you can see the top of the sims head is cut off, that is because the mask is hiding it. Anything BLACK on the mask is hidden, anything WHITE will be shown.
To make sure the sims head isnât cut off, click on the MASK to edit it. I then took a rectangle shape tool in the color white #ffffff and added a rectangle to the top of the mask. The white goes all the way to the top, allowing the top of the head to be shown.
Step 8. Now letâs say I want to add a drop shadow to my sim. When I click âFxâ and choose drop shadow, you can see that the drop shadow is not following the mask I just created. It is expanding past the mask. Letâs fix that!
Step 9. To fix that problem, click Blending Options at the top of the Layer Style Window. Then click the box that says âLayer Mask Hides Effectsâ. Now the drop shadow is in the mask I just created.
Thatâs all for the layer mask tutorial. I hope this was helpful, message me if you have any questions! :)
janainaart
izzy806
kianamaiart
kaledo-art
