Corel Painter Help | Creating and deleting layer masks

Creating and deleting layer masks

To create a layer mask based on transparency

To create a layer mask based on a selection

You can create a blank layer mask or a layer mask based on transparency. By default, when you add a blank layer mask, it is white and the layer is fully visible. A layer mask based on transparency shows all transparent areas in the layer black, and all content on the layer white. Intermediate levels of gray are partially transparent. For more information, see Preserving layer transparency.

A layer mask for the butterfly layer is created based on its transparency. The layer mask shows transparent areas in black and layer content in white.

You can also create a layer mask based on a selection. If you want to edit the selection after you have created the layer mask, make the adjustments on the layer, and then load the modified selection to the layer mask. For information about creating and modifying selections, see Selections and transformations.

Once you create the layer mask, you can start painting on it. For more information about painting on layer masks and editing them, see Painting on layer masks.

You can clear a layer mask if you want to make the entire layer fully visible again. When you no longer need a layer mask, you can delete it.

To create a blank layer mask

1 Select a layer.

2 In the Layers panel, click the New Layer Mask button

A white layer mask icon displays next to the layer icon in the Layers panel.

The layer mask icon varies in appearance depending on how you’re viewing the layers. If you are displaying layers as No Thumbnails, the icon is the same as the New Layer Mask button . If you’re viewing layers as any size of thumbnail, a small-scale representation of the mask displays as the icon.

You can also create a blank layer mask by choosing Layers Layer Mask Create.

To create a layer mask based on transparency

• In the Layers panel, right-click a layer, and choose Create Layer Mask From Transparency.

The layer mask icon displays next to the layer icon in the Layers panel.

You can create layer masks based on transparency for pixel-based layers only. Other layers must first be converted to default layers by right-clicking the layer in the Layers panel, and choosing Convert To Default Layer.

Earlier versions of Corel Painter used layer visibility masks. If you have a file with a modified visibility mask that was created with an earlier version of Corel Painter, use this procedure to load the visibility mask to a layer mask.

You can also create a layer mask based on transparency by selecting a layer and choosing Layers Layer Mask Create From Transparency.

To create a layer mask based on a selection

1 In the Layers panel, select a layer, and click the New Layer Mask button

to create a blank layer mask.

2 In the Layers panel, click the layer thumbnail icon to select the layer.

3 Choose a selection tool and make a selection in the document.

4 In the Layers panel, right-click the layer mask icon, and click Load Selection to Layer Mask.

5 In the Operation area, enable one of the following options:

• Replace Mask — replaces the mask with the current selection

• Add to Mask — combines the current selection with the mask

• Subtract From Mask — subtracts the current selection from the mask

• Intersect With Mask — determines the intersection of the selection and the mask and saves the intersection to the mask

If you have already created a layer mask based on a selection, but you want to adjust the selection, click the layer icon in the Layers panel to select the layer, and modify the selection in the document. Next, right-click the layer mask icon in the Layers panel, click Load Selection to Layer Mask, and choose an option in the dialog box that appears.

The Load Selection To Layer Mask command is also accessible from the Layers menu (Layers Layer Mask Load Selection To Layer Mask) and the Layers panel (Layer options button Layer Mask Load Selection To Layer Mask.)

To delete or clear a layer mask

• Perform an action from the following table.

To	Do the following
Delete a layer mask	Do one of the following: • In the Layers panel, right-click the layer mask, and choose Delete Layer Mask. • Choose Layers Layer Mask Delete. • In the Layers panel, select the layer mask and click the Delete button . • In the Layers panel, select the layer mask, click the Layer options button , and choose Layer Mask Delete. • In the Channels panel, select the layer mask, click the Channel options button , and choose Delete. • Click the Delete button at the bottom of the Channels panel.
Clear a layer mask	In the Channels panel, click the Channel options button , and choose Clear.