Wacom

Skill Level: Basic
Difficulty: VERY EASY
Subject: Creating a Layer Mask

Q: What is a Layer Mask?
A: A Layer Mask is as it sounds, a Mask that sits on a layer, which hides part of that layer, exposing content in layers below it.

A Layer Mask is a Non-Destructive means of editing where no information from the layer being masked is lost.

Unlike Destructive editing tools such as the eraser tool, and or creating a Marquee selection which allow portions of a layer to then be deleted permanently, or require the use of the UNDO function to retreive

deleted information, the Layer Mask is much more forgiving in that at any point during your work flow,

you can make visible previously masked areas of a Layer that you have made not visible.

If you decide to save a file for working on later, there will be no UNDO's available for edits done with the

Eraser, or Select and Delete operations. However, with the Layer Mask, as long as the image is saved with it's separate layers, you can revisit and re-edit Layer Masks to Paint back content as seen in the Original Layer before editing.

Please turn up your Speakers, or dawn you headphones and play this video tutorial to see just how easy editing with a Layer Mask really is.

I think you'll agree that it's more difficult to actually say "Layer Mask" than it is to create and start editing with one.

Once you're done, please leave your thoughts on my first Wacom Community tutorial, so I can see if I'm on the right track.

Enjoy!
- Brian