How to Use Layer Masks in Photoshop

▶ Download the PDF guide for this tutorial (free with a PHLEARN account): phlearn.com/tutorial/use-layer-masks-photoshop/

Layer masks in Photoshop let you make part of a layer visible and part invisible — without ever deleting a pixel. They're the single most important non-destructive tool in Photoshop: unlike the Eraser Tool, a layer mask can be repainted, adjusted, or fully undone years later, because nothing is actually destroyed.

This tutorial covers what layer masks do, how they compare to destructive editing, and how to use them on regular layers, adjustment layers, and entire groups — the core skill behind cutting subjects out of backgrounds, blending images, and non-destructive color adjustments.

CHAPTERS
00:00 What layer masks actually do
01:19 Layer masks vs. the Eraser Tool
04:02 Creating your first layer mask
05:48 Advanced masking techniques
12:04 Masking adjustment layers
14:23 Duplicating masks across layers
16:15 Using masks on groups

THE STEPS
1. Click the layer mask icon at the bottom of the Layers panel (or go to Layer, then Layer Mask, then Reveal All) to add a white (fully visible) mask.
2. Paint black on the mask to hide part of the layer, white to reveal it again — nothing is ever deleted.
3. Use the Brush, Gradient, or Clone Stamp Tool directly on a mask for soft transitions and precise cutouts.
4. Add masks to adjustment layers (like Solid Color or Curves) to control exactly where a color or tonal change applies.
5. Alt/Option-drag a mask from one layer to another to reuse it instantly.
6. Group multiple layers together and mask the whole group at once for complex composites.

Read the full step-by-step tutorial:
phlearn.com/layer-masks-yt00-desc

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