Some men have commitment problems—or so the cliché goes. Well, I’ve met quite a few Photoshop users with deep-rooted commitment problems, and yes, I count myself among them. We fear the commitment of making an irrevocable image-editing decision that we’ll regret in the morning. In fact, if it wasn’t for one essential feature in Photoshop—layer masks—I would be a nail-biting, sleep-deprived wreck.

Layer masks allow the commitment-wary and -weary the opportunity to try various approaches to their images without losing the flexibility to change their minds. In this chapter, you’ll be introduced to the perfect partnership—layers and layer masks—and how they work hand in hand (or should I say pixel in pixel?). This chapter addresses
• How to work with painted, gradated, and selective layer masks
• When to use pixel or vector layer masks
• Why layer masks are powerful, flexible, and creative
• How to combine multiple image exposures

If I had to decide between giving up coffee or layer masks, I wouldn’t think twice. I hear that tea has caffeine, too. So brew a cup of your favorite beverage and let’s explore one of the most exciting and essential features of Photoshop.

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