Note: If the object doesnt have a channel mask, this creates a chan-
nel mask and puts the object in channel mask edit mode.
In the Transparency palette: Click the Edit button when a masked
object is selected. This places an object with a channel mask in chan-
nel mask edit mode. If the object has a vector mask, it places the vec-
tor mask in edit mode.
In the Channels palette: When a paint object is in edit mode, click
the channel mask to select it for editing. When any other object is in
channel mask edit mode, the channel mask is the only channel that
can be selected.
Selecting views for channel mask editing
You have a choice of view when you edit an objects channel mask.
You can display the object and the channel mask together, which
shows you the overall effect of the mask as you edit it. Or, you can
hide the object to concentrate on the channel mask alone.
Selecting views in the Channels palette
An eye symbol in the Channels palette appears to the left of a channel
that is visible. The eye symbol disappears if a channel is hidden.
When you edit a channel mask, the top channel in the palette repre-
sents the object itself. For a typical paint object this channel is labeled
with the image mode, such as RGB or CMYK. For other objects, the
first channel is labeled Object.
The channel mask of an object in edit mode is shown in the Channel
Mask slot, which is below the channel list.
To view the channel mask only: Click the eye symbol next to
the object or composite channel at the top of the channel list. This
hides the object channel so only the channel mask is visible.
To hide the channel mask: Click the eye symbol next to the
channel mask. This hides the effect of the channel mask on the
object.
At least one channel, either the composite/object channel or the chan-
nel mask, must be visible. If only one is visible, you cant hide it by
clicking its eye symbol.
To display a hidden channel: Click to the left of the channel to
restore the eye symbol.