Saving Masks to Alpha Channels

Save a mask to an alpha channel within the current image or within another image. An alpha channel is a data storage area in an image which stores masks and selections. Alpha channels are like secret compartments within a suitcase—use them to store things you may need later. Masks and selections stored in alpha channels have no effect on the look of an image. To use the stored masks or selections, load them into the same image or another image.

For information on saving or loading selections in alpha channels, see Saving Selections to Alpha Channels.

When you save the image to a file format other than .PspImage format, the alpha channels are not saved. Always keep a master copy of your image in .PspImage format.

To save a mask to an alpha channel:

  1. On the Layer palette, click the name of the mask layer.

  2. Choose Layers > Load/Save Mask > Save Mask To Alpha Channel to open the Save Mask to Alpha dialog.
    The Add to document drop-down list displays all open documents and below it are the alpha channels in the image (if any).

  3. To save a mask to another image’s alpha channel, select the image name in the Add to document drop-down list. The image must be open in Paint Shop Pro.

  4. To edit the default name for the new alpha channel, type a new name in the Name group box.

  5. Click Save. Paint Shop Pro saves the mask to an alpha channel.

Related Topics

Saving Masks to Disk

Loading Masks

Creating Masks