Layers & Masks Flashcards

Which blending mode makes a layer's white pixels transparent and black pixels fully opaque?

Answer: Multiply

Multiply blending mode darkens by multiplying pixel values, making white transparent and preserving dark tones.

What happens when you Alt/Option-click a layer mask thumbnail in the Layers panel?

Answer: The mask is displayed in the document window

Alt/Option-clicking a mask thumbnail shows the grayscale mask itself in the canvas so you can inspect or edit it directly.

Which layer type allows you to apply adjustments non-destructively to all layers below it in a group?

Answer: Adjustment Layer

Adjustment layers apply color and tonal corrections non-destructively and affect all layers beneath them by default.

What does clicking the chain link icon between a layer and its mask do?

Answer: Unlinks the mask so it can move independently

Clicking the chain link icon unlinks the layer and its mask, allowing them to be transformed or repositioned independently.

Which command converts a layer mask into a selection?

Answer: Select > Load Selection

Select > Load Selection loads the luminosity values of a mask (or channel) as an active selection.

What is the result of using 'Merge Visible' (Shift+Ctrl/Cmd+E)?

Answer: All visible layers are merged into a single layer

Merge Visible collapses all currently visible (eye icon on) layers into one layer while leaving hidden layers untouched.

Which mask type uses the luminosity values of an image to control transparency, typically available via the Channels panel?

Answer: Luminosity mask

Luminosity masks are selections based on the brightness values of the image, created manually via channels or dedicated plugins.