Use Aurora HDR for free for 14 days.
The use of masks allows you to hide or obscure parts of an image. Masks are useful to 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 with combining multiple images and editing specific areas, the more you’ll use masks.
Creating a Layer Mask
If you’d 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 below.
To add a mask:
Painting and Erasing Masks
Once you’ve started editing a mask, you can add or subtract using a variety of tools. Remember, to edit a mask, click the Edit Mask button to the right of a layer’s name and choose a tool to use.
Once you’ve chosen one of the four tools, a new toolbar appears so you can customize the results. Let’s explore each control.
Global Mask Controls
The first two controls affect a mask’s properties globally.
Mask Menu.
Clicking this opens a contextual menu with additional options for working with the layer.
Visibility Icon (Eyeball)
This controls the visibility of the mask. It makes it easy to view the mask as a rubylith (red) overlay. You may also continue drawing while the layer mask is shown, for even more precision.
Using a Brush Mask
The first type of mask is created by using a brush. Once you’ve chosen Brush from the pop-up list, you’ll 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 the Paint option will add white areas to the mask. The white areas will preserve the current layer. Brushing with Erase mode is handy for “trimming” overspray of the mask and makes your selection more accurate.
To control a brush, click the Brush Settings dropdown menu, (it’s next to the Erase option). In this window, you can configure paintbrush settings such as Size, Opacity and Softness. If you have a Pen Tablet attached, you can also configure Pen Pressure, Radius and Opacity levels.
Here’s how to use the Masking Brush tool.
Using a Radial Mask
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 also be used with an image layer to add ramping transparency. For an adjustment layer, it’s useful to create a blend between the modified and original state.
Here’s how to use the Radial Mask tool:
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, it’s 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 adjust images smoothly with effects only applied to the gradient.
Here’s how to use the Gradient Mask tool:
__________________________________________________
TIP
You can edit the results of a Gradient 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.
__________________________________________________
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 for that area of the image only and then enhance them.
Here's how to create a Luminosity Mask:
Masking Options
Here are some extra techniques you can use when masking a layer or adjustment layer.
+ an exclusive US $300 OFF a multi-day (3+ day) Iceland Photo Tours
Thank you for downloading
Aurora HDR
Preparing your download...
Did your download not start?
Dont worry, just click here to try again.
Oops! Something went wrong. Don't worry, just click here to try again.
Step 1
Step 1
Find & Open
Aurora HDR Installer
Step 2
Step 2
Follow the instructions
to install Aurora HDR
Step 3
Step 3
Enjoy new photo
editing experience
Thank you for downloading
Aurora HDR
Preparing your download...
Did your download not start?
Dont worry, just click here to try again.
Oops! Something went wrong. Don't worry, just click here to try again.
Step 1
Step 1
Find & Open
Aurora HDR Installer
Step 2
Step 2
Follow the instructions
to install Aurora HDR
Step 3
Step 3
Enjoy new photo
editing experience
Thank you for downloading Luminar 4
Preparing your download...
Did your download not start?
Dont worry, just click here to try again.
Oops! Something went wrong. Don't worry, just click here to try again.
Step 1
Run the
Luminar 4 installer
Click the downloaded file at the
bottom left corner of your screen
Step 2
Step 2
Follow the instructions
to install Luminar
Step 3
Step 3
Enjoy new photo
editing experience
Thank you for downloading Luminar 4
Preparing your download...
Did your download not start?
Dont worry, just click here to try again.
Oops! Something went wrong. Don't worry, just click here to try again.
Step 1
Run the
Luminar 4 installer
Click the downloaded file at the
bottom left corner of your screen
Step 2
Step 2
Follow the instructions
to install Luminar
Step 3
Step 3
Enjoy new photo
editing experience
Thank you for downloading Luminar 4
Preparing your download...
Did your download not start?
Dont worry, just click here to try again.
Oops! Something went wrong. Don't worry, just click here to try again.
Step 1
Run the
Luminar 4 installer
Click the downloaded file at the
bottom left corner of your screen
Step 2
Step 2
Follow the instructions
to install Luminar
Step 3
Step 3
Enjoy new photo
editing experience
Thank you for downloading Luminar 4
Preparing your download...
Did your download not start?
Dont worry, just click here to try again.
Oops! Something went wrong. Don't worry, just click here to try again.
Step 1
Run the
Luminar 4 installer
Click the downloaded file at the
bottom left corner of your screen
Step 2
Step 2
Follow the instructions
to install Luminar
Step 3
Step 3
Enjoy new photo
editing experience
Thank you for downloading Luminar 4
Preparing your download...
Did your download not start?
Dont worry, just click here to try again.
Oops! Something went wrong. Don't worry, just click here to try again.
Step 1
Run the
Luminar 4 installer
Click the downloaded file at the
bottom left corner of your screen
Step 2
Step 2
Follow the instructions
to install Luminar
Step 3
Step 3
Enjoy new photo
editing experience
Thank you for downloading Luminar 4
Preparing your download...
Did your download not start?
Dont worry, just click here to try again.
Oops! Something went wrong. Don't worry, just click here to try again.
Step 1
Run the
Luminar 4 installer
Click the downloaded file at the
bottom left corner of your screen
Step 2
Step 2
Follow the instructions
to install Luminar
Step 3
Step 3
Enjoy new photo
editing experience
Thank you for downloading Luminar 4
Preparing your download...
Did your download not start?
Dont worry, just click here to try again.
Oops! Something went wrong. Don't worry, just click here to try again.
Step 1
Run the
Luminar 4 installer
Click the downloaded file at the
bottom left corner of your screen
Step 2
Step 2
Follow the instructions
to install Luminar
Step 3
Step 3
Enjoy new photo
editing experience
Thank you for downloading Luminar 4
Preparing your download...
Did your download not start?
Dont worry, just click here to try again.
Oops! Something went wrong. Don't worry, just click here to try again.
Step 1
Run the
Luminar 4 installer
Click the downloaded file at the
bottom left corner of your screen
Step 2
Step 2
Follow the instructions
to install Luminar
Step 3
Step 3
Enjoy new photo
editing experience
Luminar Flex
Use Luminar Flex for free for 30 days.
Success
Please check your inbox.
We've sent you a copy via email.
Sorry
Looks like you're subscribed already
Error
This is sad. Looks like you’ve earlier unsubscribed from Skylum emails. Please resubscribe here.
Thank you for downloading Luminar Flex
Did your download not start?
Dont worry, just click here to try again.
Step 1
Step 1
Find & Open
Luminar Flex Installer
Step 2
Step 2
Follow the instructions
to install Luminar Flex
Step 3
Step 3
Enjoy new photo
editing experience
Thank you for downloading Luminar Flex
Did your download not start?
Dont worry, just click here to try again.
Step 1
Step 1
Find & Open
Luminar Flex Installer
Step 2
Step 2
Follow the instructions
to install Luminar Flex
Step 3
Step 3
Enjoy new photo
editing experience
Thank you for downloading AirMagic
Preparing your download...
Did your download not start?
Dont worry, just click here to try again.
Oops! Something went wrong. Don't worry, just click here to try again.
Did your download not start?
Dont worry, just click here to try again.
Step 1
Step 1
Find & Open
AirMagic Installer
Step 2
Step 2
Follow the instructions
to install AirMagic
Step 3
Step 3
Launch AirMagic
and start enhancing your images.
Thank you for downloading AirMagic
Preparing your download...
Did your download not start?
Dont worry, just click here to try again.
Oops! Something went wrong. Don't worry, just click here to try again.
Did your download not start?
Dont worry, just click here to try again.
Step 1
Step 1
Find & Open
AirMagic Installer
Step 2
Step 2
Follow the instructions
to install AirMagic
Step 3
Step 3
Launch AirMagic
and start enhancing your images.