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The use of masks allow you to hide or obscure parts of an image. Masks are useful so you can combine the contents or results of one layer with your primary image. Layer Masks allow you to use powerful painting tools to selectively enhance your images. The more you work on combining multiple images, and editing specific areas, the more youâll use masks.
Creating a Layer Mask
If youâd like to use a mask on a layer, the first step is to add one. Any layer (even the base) can have a mask. Masking the base layer blends the HDR photo with the original tone-mapped image. Masking additional layers blends with the images down below.
To add a mask:
Painting and Erasing Masks
Once youâve started editing a mask, you can now add or subtract using a variety of tools. Remember, to edit a mask, click the Edit Mask button to the right of a layerâs name. Once youâve clicked, a new toolbar appears. Letâs explore each control.
Global Mask Controls
The first three controls affect a maskâs properties globally.
The next controls affect how you can add or subtract from your mask. Aurora HDR 2018 offers three tools that you can use to paint a mask.
Using a Brush Mask
The first type of mask you can create is made by using a brush. This is the default mode when entering Edit Mask mode. Once youâve chosen Brush from the Tools menu, youâll see additional useful controls.
The Brush can be used in either Paint
mode or Erase mode to add to or subtract from areas of the mask.
Clicking on the Paint option will add white areas to the mask. These
areas will be preserve the current layer. Brushing with Erase mode is
handy for âtrimmingâ overspray of the mask and making your selection
more accurate.
To control a brush, click the Brush Settings dropdown menu (itâs next to the Erase option). In this window, you can configure all the paint brush settings such as Size, Opacity and Softness. In the center of the grid there are various presets for quick selection. If you have a pen tablet attached, you can also configure Pen Pressure, Radius and Opacity levels.
Hereâs how to use the Masking Brush tool.
Using a Radial Mask
The use of a Radial Gradient Mask is a quick, easy way to highlight the sun, a face or anything else on your photo. You can create an ellipse or circular shape that makes its easy to create a gradual blend between two states. It can be used with an image layer to add ramping transparency. For an adjustment layer, itâs useful to create a blend between the modified and original state.
Hereâs how to use the Radial Mask tool
If using an Adjustment Layer, adjust the Filter controls as needed. The mask will control how its results are applied. If using an image layer, you can control the opacity and blending mode of the layer.
Using a Gradient Mask
The Gradient Mask Tool is useful for creating a gradual blend between two states. It can be used with an image layer to add ramping transparency. For an Adjustment Layer, itâs useful to create a blend between the modified and original state. The Gradient Mask is a favorite tool of landscape photographers that allows you to enhance images very smoothly with effects only applied to the Gradient.
Hereâs how to use the Gradient Mask tool:
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TIP
You can edit the results of a Linear mask by clicking the Edit Mask button. This lets you add or subtract from the mask using the Brush tool for greater control over the mask.
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Luminosity Masks
A Luminosity Mask is a fast and easy way to create a new mask based on the brightness of image pixels. When selected, the command will fill the active layer with a mask based on the brightness of image pixels. The transparency for the layer is directly related to the brightness of the pixels.
This command works very well to mask an overlaid image such as a cloud or texture layer. You can also mask a copy of a layer to enhance only part of an image. For example, if the sky and clouds are bright, you can create an exact mask only for that area of the image and then enhance them.
Heres how to create a Luminosity Mask:
Masking Options
Here are some extra techniques you can use when masking a layer or adjustment layer.
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