Creating masks

You can create a mask from an image by loading the image file from disk. When you use an image as a mask for another image, Corel PaintShop Pro applies the mask as a grayscale image. The source image is not altered. You can also create a mask by customizing one of the sample masks included with Corel PaintShop Pro.

An example of an image used as a mask

You can use a selection to create a mask that shows or hides the selection. You can use this mask as a starting point for creating artistic effects.

An example of a selection used as a mask

You can also create a mask from a channel by first splitting an image into its RGB, HSL, or CMYK channels. Corel PaintShop Pro creates a grayscale image for each channel. You can use one of these channel images to create a mask for the original image or for another image.

An example of the grayscale channel used as a mask

To create a mask layer

Edit workspace 

2	Choose Layers New Mask Layer, and choose one of the following options:

You can also
Display the mask on the image	On the Layers palette, click the Highlight mask area button .
View the image as it will appear in print or online (without the transparency grid or the mask overlay)	Choose View Palettes Overview.
Reorder the layers on which the mask is applied	Drag the mask layer on the Layers palette to a new position in the stacking order.   To apply the mask layer to all underlying layers, drag it from the layer group to the main level.

You can paint on the image to show portions of the underlying layer. For information about editing the mask, see Editing masks.

For information about stacking layers, see Changing the order of layers in an image.

To create a mask from an image

Edit workspace 

3	Choose Layers New Mask Layer From Image to open the Add Mask From Image dialog box.

The mask layer and the selected layer are added to a new layer group. The mask layer applies to the selected layer only.

For information about editing a mask, see Editing masks.

To display the mask on the image, click the Highlight mask area button on the Layers palette.

To apply the mask layer to all underlying layers, drag it from the layer group to the main level on the Layers palette.

To create a mask from a selection

Edit workspace 

1	Make a selection on a layer by using the Selection tool , the Freehand Selection tool , or the Magic Wand tool .

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To mask the selection, choose Layers New Mask Layer Hide Selection.

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To mask everything except the selection, choose Layers New Mask Layer Show Selection.

You can also
Display the mask on the image	On the Layers palette, click the Highlight mask area button .
Apply the mask layer to all underlying layers	On the Layers palette, drag the mask layer from the layer group to the main level.

If you apply a mask layer to the background, the background is automatically converted to a raster layer.

The mask layer and the selected layer are added to a new layer group. The mask layer applies to the selected layer only.

For information about editing masks, see Editing masks.

To create a mask from a channel

Edit workspace 

1	Choose Image Split Channel, and choose one of the following:

3	Choose Layers New Mask Layer From Image to open the Add Mask From Image dialog box.

You can also
Display the mask on the image	On the Layers palette, click the Highlight mask area button .
Apply the mask layer to all underlying layers	On the Layers palette, drag the mask layer from the layer group to the main level.

For information about editing the mask, see Editing masks.

For information about color channels, see Working with colors and materials.

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