A mask layer covers parts of another layer completely or with varying levels of opacity. Use masks to fade between layers or to create special effects with precision. For example, mask all details around the main subject in a photograph, or use a mask to create a Web page navigation bar that fades away.
You can create a new mask layer that you can paint on, use the mask layer to hide or show underlying layers, or create a mask layer from an image, a selection, or the luminance of an image. In addition, use one of the sample masks (stored in the Masks folder of the Paint Shop Pro program folder) and apply it as is, or customize it.
Mask layers function similar to other types of layers. Turn the visibility of the mask layer on or off, change the overall opacity of the mask layer, or link the mask layer to other layers. For more information, see Editing Layer Properties.
Mask layers are automatically saved with the image in the .PspImage format. You can also save a mask to an alpha channel or as a separate image file on a disk. For more information, see Saving Masks.
Important: Masks work with greyscale with transparency and 16 million color images only. To increase the color depth of an image, see Increasing the Color Depth of an Image.
A mask layer applies to all layers below it that are at the same level, as follows:
If a mask layer is in a layer group, it applies only to layers within the group that are lower in the stacking order.
If the mask layer is at the main level (rather than in a layer group), it applies to all layers below it in the stacking order.
To change which underlying layers the mask applies to, on the Layer palette drag the mask layer to a new position in the stacking order. For more information, see Arranging the Stacking Order of Layers.
Mask layers can never be the bottom layer in the image or in a layer group.
Masks are greyscale raster layers—they contain pixels that can display 256 shades of grey. Rather than applying grey paint to the image, however, the levels of grey correspond to levels of opacity, or masking. White pixels show underlying layers, black pixels hide underlying layers, and grey pixels show varying amounts of underlying layers. The darker the grey, the more the underlying pixels are masked.
Even though masks are raster layers, you can create masks that hide or show portions of vector layers.
When you select a mask layer, the Materials palette displays black, white, and 254 shades of grey as available colors. Paint on the mask layer to change the visibility of underlying pixels. All tools and commands that work on greyscale raster layers work on masks. For the Line, Preset Shapes, and Text tools, which can create raster or vector objects, use the tools to create raster objects on mask layers.
Note: To see what the mask layer looks like, position the cursor over the layer name on the Layer palette. A thumbnail displays the greyscale mask layer.