Layers and Masking Flashcards

Which keyboard shortcut creates a clipping mask in Photoshop?

Answer: Ctrl+Alt+G

Ctrl+Alt+G (Mac: Cmd+Option+G) creates a clipping mask between the current layer and the layer directly beneath it.

When painting on a layer mask, what does painting with gray do?

Answer: Creates partial transparency proportional to the gray value

Gray values on a layer mask create partial transparency, with darker grays hiding more and lighter grays revealing more.

What is the purpose of the 'Link' icon between a layer thumbnail and its mask thumbnail?

Answer: It ensures the mask moves and transforms together with the layer

The link icon between a layer and its mask keeps them locked together so they move and transform in sync.

Which Photoshop feature allows you to view a layer mask as a red overlay directly on the canvas?

Answer: Mask Overlay (Alt+click on mask in Channels panel)

Alt+clicking on the mask thumbnail in the Channels panel (or pressing the backslash key with the mask selected) shows the mask as a red overlay on the canvas.

A Smart Object layer with a layer mask — what happens when you convert the Smart Object back to a regular layer?

Answer: The mask is retained as a pixel layer mask on the rasterized layer

When you rasterize a Smart Object, Photoshop retains the existing layer mask on the resulting pixel layer.

Which blend mode applied to a layer makes pure black invisible and pure white fully opaque while leaving midtones semi-transparent?

Answer: Screen

Screen blend mode makes black transparent and white fully opaque, effectively ignoring dark values and preserving light values.

In the Layers panel, what does a small down-pointing arrow icon on a layer indicate?

Answer: The layer is clipped to the layer below it

The small down-pointing arrow on a layer thumbnail indicates it is a clipping mask clipped to the layer directly beneath it.