Basics of masking and making your first mask
In this introductory section, we will learn the basics of masking, starting first with the principles because while techniques frequently change, principles never do. If you understand the principles and come to terms with the idea that there is no one perfect way to mask, then we can move on to the most basic type of mask you can make, a brush-on mask.
We will cover the steps needed to get you up and running immediately using a brush-on-mask approach, no selection is needed, and no advanced techniques are required, just a simple immediate repeatable solution, so let’s get started.
Masking principles
When I teach masking, I find it best to break it down into three fundamental principles because principles never fail; only techniques do:
- Principle #1: Masking is simply a way of saying what we are hiding and what we are showing.
When you mask an object, you hide part of it, obscuring some of it from view. So...