How can you use layers and masks in Photoshop for better studio photography workflow and editing?

1 What are layers and masks?

Layers and masks are two essential concepts in Photoshop that allow you to work on different aspects of your image without affecting the original pixels. Layers are like transparent sheets that you can stack on top of each other, each containing a different element, such as an adjustment, a filter, a text, or a graphic. Masks are like stencils that you can attach to a layer to hide or reveal parts of it, depending on the color or the shape of the mask. By using layers and masks, you can create complex compositions, apply selective adjustments, and correct mistakes without losing quality or flexibility.

3 How to create and edit masks?

To create a mask, select a layer and click on the add layer mask icon at the bottom of the layers panel, or use the shortcut Alt Click (Option Click on Mac). A white mask will appear next to the layer thumbnail, indicating that the entire layer is visible. To hide parts of the layer, paint with black on the mask using the brush tool. To reveal parts of the layer, paint with white on the mask. To invert the mask, press Ctrl I (Cmd I on Mac), or click on the invert icon. To disable or enable the mask, press Shift Click on the mask thumbnail, or right-click and choose Disable/Enable Layer Mask. To delete the mask, drag it to the trash icon, or right-click and choose Delete Layer Mask. To edit the mask, select it and use any of the tools or adjustments that affect the grayscale values, such as the levels, the curves, the gradient, or the selection tools.

4 How to use layers and masks for studio photography workflow and editing?

Using layers and masks can help you improve your studio photography workflow and editing in many ways. For instance, you can create a new layer to retouch skin, blemishes, or wrinkles with the healing brush tool, the clone stamp tool, or the patch tool. Then, lower the opacity of the layer or add a mask to apply the retouching only to certain areas. You can also create an adjustment layer, such as a curves layer, a levels layer, or a hue/saturation layer, to adjust exposure, contrast, color, or tone. Moreover, you can create a new layer to add effects, filters, or textures to your image and change the blending mode of the layer for different results. Additionally, you can create multiple layers with different images for composite images and use the mask to blend the edges and transitions of the layers.

5 How to save and export your layers and masks?

When you are done with your layers and masks, you can save your Photoshop file as a PSD or a TIFF format, which will preserve all the layers and masks information. This way, you can reopen the file later and make any changes or adjustments you want. However, if you want to share your image online or print it, you will need to export it as a flattened file, such as a JPEG or a PNG format, which will merge all the layers and masks into one. To do this, you can either use the Save As option and choose the format you want, or use the Export As option and adjust the settings for the size, quality, and resolution of your image.