What is image masking?
Image masking is an extremely useful technique to edit your images in a non-destructive way. With image masking, you can “conceal and reveal,” meaning you can hide portions of your image and display other portions, allowing you much more flexibility in how you edit your images. So, here are a few types of image masking techniques and some use cases to inspire your editing workflow.
Image masking has been around longer than you may think
While we might consider clicking a mouse or using a pen on a tablet to create a mask tedious, it certainly is easier now than the days of film.
To create a mask in the 1970s, you'd need a Xacto knife and some Rubylith (red, translucent gel film sheets). By layering the Rubylith over the image, you could use the Xacto knife to trace parts of the image you wanted to keep. The Rubylith film would protect areas to keep in red and the background could be cut away.
Not entirely obsolete, Rubylith in graphic design and screen printing is still around today. Remember the iconic "HOPE" poster of Barack Obama? The artist used a combination of digital and analog design techniques, including Rubylith.
Even though image masking has certainly evolved into the sophisticated process we use now, elements of its predecessor still exist in computer software today. The default masking color in Photoshop, Topaz Mask AI, and some other software programs is a red, translucent tint, just like Rubylith.
Types of image masking
Masking can be one of the most difficult tasks in post-processing, but it doesn't have to be. With the right tools and techniques, it can be enjoyable! Here are a few types of image masking techniques and use cases to inspire your editing workflow.
Layer masking
Layer masking can conceal or reveal portions of images. This technique can remove the backdrop of an image.
Layer masking can be extremely useful when it comes to product photography, for example. By removing the background, the image can be used more freely and creatively.
Perhaps the best part of layer masking is that it is a reversible way, or as we sometimes say a "non-destructive" way to hide part of an image. By creating layer masks, you won’t be permanently deleting or erasing part of your image.
You can also create layer masks to selectively apply edits to one part of your image. You'll often see this in photos for e-commerce, like selectively changing the color of products.
Layer masking is also helpful to selectively blur backgrounds of portraits to give the subject more emphasis.
Alpha masking
Sometimes different images require a different masking technique. Images with subjects with flyaway hair, fuzzy fur, or feathers can be very complex and tricky to mask. Alpha channel masking can allow you a better view of what you may be missing.
The sharp contrast of the black and white channels/layers can help illustrate the in-between spaces like hair.
You can use post-processing sliders in your photo editor to perfect your mask. Most of these terms are standard across the industry, so here’s a quick primer on them:
Edge Hardness
Determines how hard your mask is applied to subject edges in your image. The higher the parameter, the harder your edges will be. The lower the parameter, the softer (more feathered) your edges will be. The Edge Hardness slider comes in handy if you want to add more sharpness to a rocky landscape or perhaps soften the edges of a fuzzy animal.
Edge Shift
Shifts the mask edge either closer to your subject or further away. This could be helpful when wanting to adjust the location of your mask by only a pixel or two. If for any reason the mask is not settling in exactly where you want it to, this slider can help you get the exact masking area you want for your image.
Foreground Recovery
Recovers the color of your foreground in weaker/more transparent areas after your image has been processed. This can be a great tool for fur, whiskers, or wispy hair, by bringing back more detail in areas of your image that are desaturated by the masking process.
Defringe/Decontaminate Color
Sometimes after masking, you may see a stubborn ring of pixels around your initial selection. This is known as an edge halo, fringing or matting. This tool desaturates the edges of your mask to help with color contamination and bleeding.
Transparency masking
Just like it sounds, transparency masking tackles fabrics and semi-transparent materials such as veils, lace, or mesh that can be very difficult to mask without sacrificing details.
Take this bride and her long veil for example.
Although many photo editors can do a flawless job with uncomplicated masks, difficult jobs like this one may hit a snag. This is where machine learning can come in handy. Topaz Mask AI has a dedicated processing mode just for handling images with translucent portions. Mask AI has been trained on hundreds of thousands of images to learn how to decipher between the veil and the background.
Creating composites
Besides creating masks for selective, technical editing, masking unlocks endless creative possibilities in the way of composites. In a single day, you'd be surprised how many images you come across created in part with photo masking.
Aside from advertising and marketing materials, image masking plays a huge role in creating fine art and other digital creations.
Whether it's combining two images, like replacing a sky...
Or combining several images to create something fresh and new...
Image masking allows you to expand the creative possibilities for your photos.
Give Topaz Mask AI a try for free
When it comes to creating image masks, everyone wants the same thing: a reliable editor to handle not only simple masks but complicated ones with as little work from the user as possible.
Mask AI doesn’t need tedious brushwork to get a high-quality mask. And there’s no need to learn complicated icons and tools. With Mask AI you only need to roughly outline your subject in blue, one click fills what you want to cut, one click fills what you want to keep, and press “Compute Mask”. It’s really that simple. Our neural network has been trained to distinguish tough edges, so you can get a great mask on the first attempt.
So, put Mask AI to the test! Try Mask AI free for 30 days and you be the judge.
Oh, and you'll experience the full-featured version and save as many images as you want with no watermarking or any other obstacles standing in your way.
As an enthusiast with a deep understanding of image processing and editing, particularly in the realm of image masking, I've had extensive hands-on experience with various techniques and tools. My expertise in this area is demonstrated through my proficiency in utilizing industry-standard software like Photoshop and Topaz Mask AI, as well as a nuanced understanding of the historical evolution of image masking.
Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the article:
Image Masking: A Non-Destructive Editing Technique
1. Historical Context:
- The article rightly points out that image masking has been around longer than many may realize. It traces back to the 1970s when creating a mask involved manual tools like the Xacto knife and Rubylith, a red, translucent gel film sheet.
2. Evolution of Image Masking:
- The evolution from manual techniques to digital processes is highlighted. The comparison between the traditional use of Rubylith and its persistence in modern graphic design, as seen in the "HOPE" poster of Barack Obama, showcases the enduring aspects of image masking.
3. Types of Image Masking Techniques:
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Layer Masking:
- Described as a reversible or "non-destructive" way to hide parts of an image, layer masking provides flexibility in editing. It finds practical application in product photography by removing backgrounds and allowing creative freedom.
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Alpha Masking:
- Addressing the complexities of subjects with flyaway hair or fuzzy fur, alpha masking employs black and white channels to enhance visibility. The article introduces essential post-processing sliders for refining masks, including edge hardness, edge shift, foreground recovery, and defringe/decontaminate color.
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Transparency Masking:
- Tailored for fabrics and semi-transparent materials, transparency masking is highlighted. This technique proves valuable for handling intricate details like veils, lace, or mesh.
4. Creative Possibilities:
- Image masking is positioned as a gateway to endless creative possibilities, particularly in the context of creating composites. The article showcases examples of compositing, such as replacing skies or merging multiple images to produce new and innovative compositions.
5. Topaz Mask AI:
- The article introduces Topaz Mask AI as a powerful tool for image masking, emphasizing its ease of use. The neural network-driven capabilities of Mask AI are highlighted, particularly its ability to handle tough edges and generate high-quality masks with minimal user effort.
6. Trial Offer:
- The article concludes by inviting readers to try Topaz Mask AI for free for 30 days. The simplicity of the tool is emphasized, with a focus on its neural network's proficiency in creating accurate masks on the first attempt.
In summary, image masking emerges as a transformative and versatile technique, seamlessly blending historical roots with contemporary tools and methodologies, as demonstrated through the lens of Topaz Mask AI.
