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- <h3 class="title"><a id="gimp-layer-mask"></a>2.3. Layer masks</h3>
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- <span class="term">Overview</span>
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- <dd>
- <p>
- A transparency mask can be added to each layer, it's called Layer
- mask. A layer mask has the same size and same pixel number as
- the layer to which it is attached. Every pixel of the mask can
- then be coupled with a pixel at the same location in the layer.
- The mask is a set of pixels in graytone on a value scale from 0
- to 255. The pixels with a value 0 are black and give a full
- transparency to the coupled pixel in the layer. The pixels with
- a value 255 are white and give a full opacity to the coupled
- pixel in the layer.
- </p>
- <p>
- To create a layer mask start with a right click on the layer to
- call the context menu and select <span class="guilabel">Add layer
- mask</span> in the menu. If the menu item is grayed first
- select <span class="guilabel">Add Alpha channel</span> in the same menu.
- A dialog appears where you can initialize the content of the
- mask:
- </p>
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- <ul type="disc">
- <li>
- <p>
- <span class="guilabel">White</span>: the mask has no effect,
- all layer pixels are full visible.
- </p>
- </li>
- <li>
- <p>
- <span class="guilabel">Black</span>: the mask gives a full
- transparency
- to the layer which becomes invisible.
- </p>
- </li>
- <li>
- <p>
- <span class="guilabel">Layer's Alpha channel</span>: the mask is
- initialized according to the content of layer Alpha
- channel. If the layer still contains transparency it's
- copied in the mask.
- </p>
- </li>
- <li>
- <p>
- <span class="guilabel">Selection</span> : the mask is initialized
- according to pixel values found in the selection.
- </p>
- </li>
- <li>
- <p>
- <span class="guilabel">Grayscale copy of layer</span>: the mask
- is
- initialized according to pixel values of the layer.
- </p>
- </li>
- </ul>
- </div>
- <p>
- </p>
- <p>
- When the mask is created it appears as a thumbnail right to the
- layer thumbnail. By clicking alternatively on the layer and mask
- thumbnail you can enable one or other. The active itemis
- highlighted by a white border (which is not well visible around a
- white mask). To view mask content instead of its effect in image
- window, press <span><b class="keycap">Ctrl Alt</b></span> and then on mask
- thumbnail. To return to normal view redo last operation.
- </p>
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- <th align="left">Caution</th>
- </tr>
- <tr>
- <td colspan="2" align="left" valign="top">
- <p>
- The layer mask acts like a transparency mask on a particular
- layer. Since you have many layers it becomes different from the
- image Alpha channel which represents transparency applied to the
- whole image.
- </p>
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