Image masking in pictures is among the most necessary functionalities of any photograph enhancing program. Even although picture masking implementation can fluctuate from {photograph} to program, the idea behind the picture masks is identical. Image masks permit us to make use of selective enhancing.
Let me clarify.
When analyzing any photograph, you may see that completely different areas have distinct traits and properties. It is unlikely to use a sequence of edits to a complete photograph and obtain the specified outcomes. The solely solution to produce professionally-looking pictures is to edit completely different areas of the picture individually utilizing varied instruments and methods.
This is when picture masking involves play.
Image masing helps us isolate (masks) particular areas of the picture and depart unmasked areas obtainable for enhancing.
What is Image Masking?
Image masking is the cornerstone of graphic design, picture compositing, and photograph enhancing. It permits designers and photographers to selectively edit solely a portion of the picture, leaving the remainder untouched. By creating customized picture masks, we will goal particular areas of the images primarily based on completely different parameters akin to coloration, brightness, objects (individual, animal, product), and different options (sky, water).
Image masking has its roots in movie pictures. In the darkroom, photographers used to cowl a part of the photograph paper, the one they didn’t need to be affected by the sunshine coming from the enlarger. The means of concealing the realm of the photograph paper is named masking.
The idea of masking transitioned to digital pictures, however as a substitute of bodily masks, we use digital instruments to guard (masks) or reveal a part of the picture for selective enhancing.
Image Masking in Lightroom
When Lightroom was launched in 2007, it didn’t have any picture masking capabilities. The main operate of this system was photograph group. You might apply easy edits akin to publicity, saturation to the complete picture solely; selective enhancing didn’t exist. To use selective enhancing with the assistance of picture masks, you needed to swap to Photoshop.
Over the years, Adobe launched selective enhancing to Lightroom (Adjustment Brush, Graduated Filter, Radial Filter), however it was not even near Photoshop’s masking capabilities.
The first large change occurred in 2018 with the introduction of the superior masking instruments, the Range Mask. With new masking instruments, photographers might selectively goal areas of the picture primarily based on coloration and luminance values. It was big. It modified the way in which I edited images in Lightroom. It allowed me to carry out 90-95% post-processing in Lightroom, and the necessity for Photoshop declined.
But the implementation of the Range Mask was not supreme. It had too many limitations. You couldn’t create a picture masks from scratch; you needed to apply Adjustment Brush, Graduated Filter, or Radial Filter first and create masking after.
And lastly, in October 2021, Adobe launched Lightroom model 11, the place they rebuilt and rearranged adjustment instruments. The most important change was the introduction of a devoted Masking panel. Now, all of the masking instruments reside in a single place, not depending on any explicit instrument.
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Old Adjustment Panel -
New Panel
The enhancing workflow is simple now. You create a number of picture masks focusing on completely different picture areas first. Next, you selectively edit these areas utilizing enhancing sliders.
Let’s see what picture masking instruments we’ve in Lightroom at this time.
1. AI Image Masking: Select Subject
Adobe all the time lagged behind the competitors, akin to Luminar, with the event instruments powered by synthetic intelligence (AI). But it seems to be as whether it is beginning to change.
Lightroom launched two new AI instruments, and they’re very efficient.
The Select Subject AI instrument analyzes the photograph and identifies the photograph’s important topic; subsequent, it routinely creates a fairly correct masks.
It is the right companion for portrait and product photographers.
They additionally launched a brand new characteristic, the Invert Mask, essential for any picture masking instrument. After the primary object is chosen, you invert the masks and goal the background of your photograph with enhancing instruments.
2. AI Image Masking: Select Sky
The Select Sky performance is just like the Select Subject, however as a substitute of the primary object, it identifies the realm of the sky and creates a masks.
The Select Sky instrument works quick, and it is rather correct. It is way quicker and extra correct than utilizing the old-school method focusing on the sky with the Brush or Linear Gradient instruments.
Once once more, you may invert the masks.
Here is my workflow when utilizing new masking instruments. I click on the Select Sky instrument, and it routinely creates a picture masks with the sky chosen. Next, I duplicate the masks and invert the choice. Now, I can edit the realm of the sky and foreground individually.
Priceless.
It is obvious that the Select Sky instrument is the right companion for panorama photographers.
The solely unfavourable I see with the Select Sky instrument is it can’t be used dynamically. I can’t put it aside as a Lightroom preset to generate a picture masks in any chosen picture dynamically.
I hope Adobe improves the performance of the Select Sky sooner or later.
3. Brush Image Mask
The outdated Brush Adjustment instrument is now known as the Brush. It remodeled from an adjustment instrument to a pure masking instrument.
Let me clarify.
When utilizing outdated Brush Adjustment, you may transfer enhancing sliders first after which begin portray with the comb over the photograph, visually making use of selective edits. With the brand new Brush instrument, you all the time begin with the masks creation. And solely when you’re proud of the masks, you start transferring sliders making use of desired results to the remoted space.
With the introduction of the Select Object and Select Sky AI instruments, the first operate of the Brush instrument in my enhancing workflow is masks refining. If I’m not absolutely proud of the masks created by the Select Object and Select Sky instruments, I can fine-tune them with the Brush.
4. Linear Gradient Image Mask
The Linear Gradient is a brand new title for the outdated Graduated Filter instrument. The instrument transformation is just like the Brush instrument. From the adjustment, it remodeled right into a pure masking instrument.
Now, I typically mix the Select Sky with the Linear Gradient focusing on space of the sky and making the highest of the sky darker.
5. Radial Gradient Image Mask
The Radial Gradient follows the suite of the Brush and Linear Gradient instruments. It has a brand new title; it’s Radial Gradient now as a substitute of Radial Filter. And it carries masking performance now.
But the way in which you utilize it is rather just like the earlier model. The solely distinction right here is as a substitute of 1 circle that signifies the chosen space, there are two. The interior circle signifies the place the opaque space ends, and the gradient begins.
6. Color Range Image Mask
The Color Range masking instrument helps you create masks primarily based on particular coloration values or vary of colours.
Even although I typically used the unique Range Mask, it had too many limitations. First, it was connected to Brush, Linear Gradient, or Radial Gradient instruments, and also you solely might modify the masks created by these instruments. Of course, I had workarounds, however it felt as if implementation wasn’t well-thought.
Now, nearly all limitations are gone. Both the Color Range and Luminance Range are separated and never depending on any instruments.
Huge enchancment.
I typically use the Color Range masks when enhancing the sky space in my landscapes. I goal solely the blue hues of the sky and preserve vivid areas of the clouds protected. And if I edit the sundown photograph, I’d create a separate Color masks focusing on solely orange and pink hues of the sky.
But, it has the identical limitation because the Select Sky picture masks; you may’t use it dynamically. At least at this second, it’s unattainable to include the Color Range masks creation into Lightroom presets. It solely works with the particular photograph.
7. Luminance Range Image Mask
If the Color Range instrument permits you to create a customized masks primarily based on the colour values, then the Luminance Range instrument generates masks primarily based on the brightness (luminance) of the pixels.
The new Luminance Range masking instrument is my favourite addition to the masking toolset. I exploit it most frequently together with the Select Sky AI instrument.
For instance, I exploit the Select Sky instrument with the Invert possibility checked to pick out all the pieces besides the sky. Next, I exploit the Luminance Range to focus on the midtone pixels solely. Now, I can enhance the distinction with out affecting shadows, highlights, and the sky.
And what’s the most vital characteristic of the brand new Luminance Range instrument is it may be used dynamically. I already created a set of distinction presets focusing on midtone values solely. When I apply the preset to any chosen photograph, Lightroom creates a picture masks on the fly primarily based on the luminance values of the chosen picture.
8. Depth Range
Adobe launched the Depth Range instrument some time in the past, however I used to be important due to its very restricted use. It solely works with the brand new HEIC format, Apple’s proprietary model of High-Efficiency Image File format.
The Depth Range instrument creates a picture masks primarily based on how shut the a part of the picture to the digicam. In idea, it’s a nice characteristic that permits you to selectively edit solely the background space of the photograph and preserve areas near the digicam untouched.
The drawback is that HEIC pictures with the depth map could be produced solely utilizing the iPhones with the twin digicam beginning with iPhone 7+.
Since I’m an Android consumer, I’ve no use for this instrument. But even if in case you have a brand new model of iPhone, you get higher picture high quality when capturing RAW format (DNG) than HEIC.
9. Advanced Masking in Lightroom
With the introduction of eight new picture masking instruments, you may have loads of choices for creating exact and complicated masks for selective enhancing. But you may take it even additional with the brand new Add and Subtract options.
Now you may mix all of the masking instruments making selective enhancing much more versatile.
Here is a sensible utility of the Subtract characteristic.
To selectively edit the sky space, I exploit the Select Sky instrument first. When Lightroom creates the masks, I hit the Subtract button. Next, I decide the Luminance Range instrument and subtract the highlights from the present masks created by the Select Sky instrument. When I’m performed, I’ve the choice focusing on solely darker areas of the sky. I can selectively edit the sky with out affecting the intense clouds.
The Add characteristic works the identical method, however you increase the masks as a substitute of subtracting a portion of it. For instance, you should use the Brush instrument to increase the masks by portray over desired areas of the picture.
Plus, there may be one other masking characteristic I nearly missed. It is the Intersect possibility. You allow it when urgent down the ALT key. It permits you to create a masking choice by intersecting 2 masks.
The shortcomings of Lightroom Masking Tools
I want that Adobe made the Select Sky and the Color Range instruments absolutely dynamic, as I discussed above. But I imagine it’s a work in progress, and within the close to future, they’ll enhance the performance of the masking instruments. I’ll replace my Lightroom Rapid Editing system after they do it by incorporating all of the masking instruments in my preset-based photograph enhancing workflow. It will permit me to edit images a lot quicker and with increased precision.
But the primary shortcoming of the brand new masking instruments, the way in which I see it, is that after creating the specified masks, I would not have entry to all of the enhancing instruments obtainable in Lightroom.
For instance, my favourite Lightroom enhancing instruments are situated in HSL/Color panel. They permit me to focus on particular person colours selectively. I would not have entry to the HSL/Color panel with the brand new masking instruments. The identical goes with the Tone Curve and Color Grading panels; they’re unavailable when utilizing the masking performance.
It seems to be as if Adobe arbitrarily determined what instruments I want and instruments I don’t. The challenge wouldn’t exist if Adobe used the layer-based method because it exists in most enhancing applications, together with Photoshop. But, for some inexplicable motive, they refuse to present us layers in Lightroom, the primary characteristic that made Photoshop so highly effective.
Image Masking in Photoshop
I transitioned to pictures from graphic design. For years, I used Photoshop as my main enhancing and compositing instrument as a graphic designer. And what I realized from my graphic design years is that to grasp Photoshop, you need to grasp methods to create exact picks and masks.
Photoshop has a way more intensive number of masking instruments and is rather more highly effective in comparison with Lightroom.
This article goals to not educate you to make use of masking instruments in Photoshop as a result of it’s unattainable. But as a substitute to present you an concept of masking choices obtainable in Photoshop. So you may determine if you should be taught Photoshop or Lightroom picture masking instruments might be adequate.
1. Layer Masks
Photoshop is a layer-based program with an nearly limitless variety of layers. And for every layer, you may have a devoted transparency masks.
Lightroom doesn’t have layers, however you may have a number of masks connected to any photograph you edit.
2. Vector Layer Masks
The vector layer masking performance permits you to create resolution-independent masks in Photoshop. This characteristic doesn’t exist in Lightroom, however it’s not often utilized in photograph enhancing.
I solely used vector layer masks when working with high-resolution pictures meant for print. I by no means felt the necessity for vector masks in my pictures.
3. Adjustment Masks
Adjustment layers are nondestructive edits you may apply to any layer in Photoshop. And for every adjustment layer, you may have a transparency masks. Original adjustment instruments in Lightroom (brush, graduate filter, radial filter) labored exactly as adjustment layers in Photoshop. With the most recent revamping of masking instruments in Lightroom, they work barely completely different however nonetheless akin to adjustment layers and masks in Photoshop.
4. Clipping Masks
Clipping masks in Photoshop allow you to management transparency masks in a single layer primarily based on the content material of one other layer. The performance is extensively utilized in graphic design and picture compositing. Such a characteristic isn’t attainable in Lightroom as a result of it has no layers. But you gained’t miss it if you’re solely focused on photograph enhancing.
5. Alpha Masks
Alpha Mask is an advance and really highly effective performance in Photoshop. The masking info is saved in one of many picture’s coloration channels (alpha channel) and could be accessed by varied applications outdoors of photoshop.
When I used to be working as a graphic designer producing graphics for broadcast tv, 80% of my time was spent creating refined alpha masks in Photoshop. It allowed overlaying a number of pictures on a TV display, preserving transparency in varied areas of the photographs.
Even although it’s a highly effective characteristic, you don’t miss it when processing images. And there isn’t any such a characteristic in Lightroom
6. Select Sky
The Select Sky instrument is powered by synthetic intelligence and machine studying. It detects and selects the sky space with precision and accuracy. I’m sure the instrument makes use of the identical algorithm because the Select Sky instrument in Lightroom. Both instruments produce related outcomes.
7. Select Object
The identical goes with the Select-Object instrument, which is powered by AI and similar to the way it works to the Select Object instrument in Lightroom.
8. Color Range
The Color Range is a really useful gizmo in photograph enhancing. You can create customized masks primarily based on particular coloration or vary of colours in any given picture. For a very long time, I missed such performance in Lightroom. But since Adobe launched the Color Range in Lightroom in model 8, the necessity for Photoshop coloration masking capabilities disappeared.
9. Luminosity Masks
I imagine the implementation of Luminance Range in Lightroom is extra user-friendly and logical than Photoshop’s Luminosity Masks. In Lightroom, you may create a customized masks primarily based on luminance (brightness) values in seconds. In Photoshop, it’s extra highly effective however rather more sophisticated. Stick to Lightroom.
As you may see, though Photoshop is a way more highly effective and feature-rich program, the necessity for Photoshop in photograph enhancing diminishes quick. And almost about picture masking functionalities, I don’t see a large benefit of Photoshop over Lightroom.
Plus, to totally reap the benefits of Photoshop superior options, you should rasterize pictures first. In Lightroom, you may keep in a RAW enhancing setting benefiting from nondestructive enhancing.
Image Masking in Photography: Conclusion
I’ve been important of Adobe for the previous couple of years for the shortage of actual innovation in Lightroom. It seemed that a lot of the competitors was forward of Lightroom. But with the implementation of latest picture masking instruments, there may be hope that Adobe lastly awoke and can deal with us with really progressive instruments and options.