Using Creative Masks
Masks are powerful, are flexible, and help you solve problems like targeting adjustments and limiting changes to a specific area of a photo. They are so helpful to the photo restoration process that Ive made sure to cover them whenever possible. It should be no surprise, then, that Ive found a way to squeeze them into this chapter.
My wife took the photo shown in Figure 7.21 of the Royal Gorge Bridge in Colorado. I reached a point in the restoration where I was unhappy with the tone of the distant background. I decided to apply a Photo Filter (as a Smart Filter) to cool the color but did not want the entire photo changed. Therefore, I used the Gradient Fill tool to mask out the foreground. The gradient provides a nice blend between the two areas of the scene.
Figure 7.21 The mask helps make the colors look “gorge-ous.”
Be on the lookout for ways to create and use masks imaginatively. If you cant paint them on, try using selections. If that doesnt match what you need, consider the different gradient fill options. Being able to create masks in a number of ways opens up many more possibilities for you to target and blend adjustments.