In Adobe Photoshop, you can make temporary masks, called quick masks. Masks let you isolate and protect parts of an image. The quick mask workflow combines familiar painting tools with selection refinement, delivering precise control over complex edges like hair or folds.
Getting started: entering Quick Mask mode and initial masking
Open the image you want to make a selection on. The dress example shows how a large initial selection can be produced and then refined. Select the Quick Mask mode button in the toolbox. By default, you work in Standard mode. When you click on the Quick Mask button, you will work in Quick Mask mode. In Quick Mask mode, a red overlay (known as rubylith) appears, to mask and protect the area outside the selection. Now we need to refine the selection of the dress by adding to or erasing parts of the masked area.
Refining with the Brush tool
We do this by using the brush tool to make changes to your quick mask. The advantage of editing your selection as a mask is that you can use almost any tool or filter to modify the mask. In Quick Mask mode, Photoshop automatically defaults to Grayscale mode. The foreground colour defaults to black, and the background colour defaults to white. Start by painting with white to increase the selected area within the dress. In the tool options bar, make sure that the mode is Normal. Using the brush tool, begin painting over the red areas within the dress. As you paint with white, the red areas are erased. Don’t worry if you paint outside the outline of the dress. Continue painting with white to erase all of the mask (red) in the dress. Once you’ve erased all of the red areas within the dress, click the Standard mode icon again to view your quick mask as a selection. Don’t worry if the selection extends a bit beyond the dress.
Switching colors and finalizing the mask
If necessary, zoom out so that you can see the entire image. To make the foreground colour black, select the Switch Foreground and Background Colours icon, or press X on the keyboard. Make sure that the black colour box now appears on top. Choose a brush from the Brush pop-up palette. Now paint with black to restore the mask (the red overlay) to any of the background area that is still unprotected. Continue working until only the area inside the dress remains unmasked and you are completely satisfied with your mask selection. I love the quick mask because it allows you to create a very precise selection using familiar and easy to use tools such as the paint brush.
Quick mask vs. layer mask: key differences
A quick mask and a layer mask in Photoshop serve similar purposes but are used differently. A quick mask is a temporary mask used for making or refining selections in your image. It allows you to paint your selection using a brush, making it easier to include or exclude areas. On the other hand, a layer mask is a permanent, non-destructive way to hide parts of layers. You can alter the visibility of certain parts of a layer by painting black (to hide) or white (to reveal) on the layer mask.
Editing and saving quick masks
How can I edit a quick mask in Photoshop? To edit a quick mask, you first need to enter the Quick Mask Mode by pressing the Q key. Once in this mode, you can use the brush tool to paint the areas you want to select. The default color for the quick mask is red, which represents the masked or protected area. If you want to remove areas from the selection, you can paint with white. To exit the Quick Mask Mode and return to the standard mode, press the Q key again. Can I change the color of the quick mask? Yes, you can change the color of the quick mask. To do this, double-click on the Quick Mask Mode button in the Tools panel. This will open the Quick Mask Options dialog box. Here, you can change the color and the opacity of the mask.
Compatibility with other tools and saving selections
How can I use the quick mask with other selection tools? The quick mask is compatible with all the other selection tools in Photoshop. You can start a selection with any tool, like the Lasso or Marquee tool, and then switch to the Quick Mask Mode to refine the selection. This is particularly useful when dealing with complex selections that have irregular shapes. Can I save my quick mask selection? Yes, you can save your quick mask selection. After making your selection in the Quick Mask Mode, go to the Select menu and choose Save Selection. This will save your selection as a new channel which you can load later when needed.
Common issues and solutions
Why is my quick mask not working? If your quick mask is not working, it could be due to several reasons. One common issue is that the mask color is set to the same color as the area you’re trying to select, making it invisible. To fix this, change the mask color in the Quick Mask Options. Another issue could be that the opacity of the mask is set too low, making it hard to see. Increase the opacity in the Quick Mask Options to fix this. How can I invert my quick mask selection? To invert your quick mask selection, first exit the Quick Mask Mode by pressing the Q key. Then, go to the Select menu and choose Inverse. This will invert your selection, selecting everything that was not previously selected and deselecting everything that was.
Using quick mask for image adjustments
Can I use the quick mask for image adjustments? Yes, you can use the quick mask for image adjustments. After making your selection with the quick mask, you can apply any adjustment to that selection only. This is a great way to apply adjustments to specific areas of your image without affecting the rest of it. Can I use the quick mask with the Brush tool? Yes, the quick mask is designed to be used with the Brush tool. When in Quick Mask Mode, you can use the Brush tool to paint your selection. This allows for a high level of precision and control, especially when working with a graphics tablet.
Practical tips for improving quick mask skills
The best way to improve your skills with the quick mask is through practice. Try using the quick mask in different scenarios, with different selection tools, and for different purposes. Also, experiment with different brush sizes and hardness levels to see how they affect your selection. Finally, don’t forget to use the zoom and pan tools to get a closer look at your selection and make more precise adjustments. Tools like Select Subject and Select and Mask can help start fast, but refining with Quick Mask remains invaluable for edge quality and complex shapes.
- Start with an initial selection using any tool.
- Enter Quick Mask mode and paint with black to protect areas.
- Paint with white to expand the selection; press Q to toggle back to viewing as a selection.
- Switch colors and refine edges with brush and refine edge tools as needed.
- Save the selection if you anticipate reusing it later.
Jennifer Farley is a designer, illustrator, and design instructor based in Ireland. Welcome to Photoshop Gurus forum. The discussion includes tips on creating masks, transferring selections across documents, and refining edges with Select and Mask, as well as practical considerations for halos, jaggies, and color fringes.
Adobe Photoshop: Layer Masks Explained in 7 Minutes with Jesús Ramirez
In summary, the quick mask workflow provides a flexible, brush-based approach to constructing and refining selections, compatible with a wide range of tools and output options, from final selections to layer masks and beyond.