Can one Photoshop layer mask control multiple adjustment layers?
Asked 5/6/2011
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2 answers
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In Photoshop CS5, I have an action that asks the user to paint a mask for a Color Balance adjustment, then later creates a Hue/Saturation adjustment with its own mask. If I notice missed areas after changing hue/saturation, I currently have to repaint both masks separately. Is there a way to have one mask affect both adjustment layers, or otherwise keep the two masks in sync so I only edit once?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
1
I don't think you can easily do this with multiple masks. You need to use a single mask, but clip your adjustment layers to that one mask.
Assume you have your main background layer called Layer1, a colour balance adjustment layer above that, and hue/sat adjustment layer on top.
Put the colour balance and hue/saturation layers in a group (I do this, not sure if it's a necessary step)
Create the mask only to the bottom of the two (the colour adjustment layer)
Alt-click between Layer1 and the colour adj layer to create a clipping mask.
If necessary, alt-click between the two adjustment layers to clip the hue/sat layer.
Now the mask will apply to both of your adjustments
Originally by user4191. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4191
15y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes. The simplest approach is to use one mask for both adjustments instead of maintaining two separate masks.
Put the adjustment layers together and have a single mask control the stack, so edits to that mask affect both the Color Balance and Hue/Saturation changes. In practice, this usually means grouping or clipping the adjustments so one shared mask applies to both layers.
If you already have two separate masks, Photoshop doesn’t really “live-link” them for painting. The practical workaround is to copy the mask from one layer to the other:
- Alt/Option-click the edited mask to view it
- Select All, then Copy
- Alt/Option-click the other mask
- Paste
So: for future edits, a shared mask is the best workflow; for existing layers, copy the mask contents between them when needed.
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