Adobe 12040118 Tutorial - Page 331

Compound masks that result when different modes are applied to the circle mask. The masks in this illustration have different Mask Opacity values. A. Original masks B. None C. Add D. Subtract E. Intersect F. Lighten G. Darken H. Difference None The mask has no direct influence on the alpha channel of the layer. This option is useful when you are only using the path of the mask for an effect such as Stroke or Fill, or if you are using the mask path as the basis for a shape path. Add The mask is added to the masks above it in the stacking order. The influence of the mask is cumulative with the masks above it. Subtract The influence of the mask is subtracted from the masks above it. This option is useful when you want to create the appearance of a hole in the center of another mask. Intersect The mask is added to the masks above it in the stacking order. In areas where the mask overlaps the masks above it, the influence of the mask is cumulative with the masks above it. In areas where the mask does not overlap with the masks above it, the result is complete opacity. Lighten The mask is added to the masks above it in the stacking order. Where multiple masks intersect, the highest transparency value is used. Darken The mask is added to the masks above it in the stacking order. Where multiple masks intersect, the lowest transparency value is used. Difference The mask is added to the masks above it in the stacking order. In areas where the mask does not overlap the masks above it, the mask operates as it would alone on the layer. In areas where the mask overlaps the masks above it, the influence of the mask is subtracted from the masks above it. Expand or contract the edges of a mask To the top To expand or contract the area influenced by a mask, use the Mask Expansion property. Mask expansion affects the alpha channel but not the underlying mask path; the mask expansion is essentially an offset that determines how far, in pixels, from the mask path the influence of the mask on the alpha channel extends. 1. In the Timeline panel, expand the Mask properties of the layer you want to adjust. 2. Drag the underlined value for Mask Expansion. Todd Kopriva provides a visual aid and further explanation regarding mask expansion-and why it creates rounded corners-on his blog on the Adobe website. Soften (feather) the edges of a mask To the top Feathering softens the edges of a mask by fading it from more transparent to less transparent over a user-defined distance. Using the Mask Feather property, you make mask edges hard-edged or soft-edged (feathered). By default, the feather width straddles the mask edge, half inside, and half outside. For example, if you set the feather width to 25, the feathering extends 12.5 pixels inside the mask edge and 12.5 pixels outside it.