How to Use Adobe Photoshop CS2 Edit in Quick Mask Mode
Making precise selections is at the heart of image editing. Although Photoshop has many selection tools, the best way to make a precise selection is to employ a Quick Mask. In Quick Mask Mode, you use the Paintbrush tool to paint in a selection. Remove portions of the selection by painting with black and overlaying a red mask. Painting with white will remove the red mask and increase the selected area.
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Instructions
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Choose any selection tool from the tool's panel.
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Make a rough selection with the tool around part of the image.
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Click on the Quick Mask Mode icon at the bottom of the tool's panel. The icon is a gray square with a white circle in the middle.
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Click on the Paintbrush tool and choose a brush from the Options Bar. Select a hard round brush for a distinct selection edge or a soft round brush for a feathered selection edge. Set the brush opacity to 100 percent and choose an appropriately sized brush.
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Paint with white to add to your selection, or use black to remove parts of the selection. Switch between the two colors to pressing "X" on the keyboard.
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Click the Quick Mask button to return to Standard Mode and view the selection edges.
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Tips & Warnings
While you are in Quick Mask Mode, you can alter the selected area, but not the image itself. Utilizing any filters, tools or commands such as "Fill" will only affect the mask.
To select a small area in Quick Mask Mode, click the Quick Mask icon; select the Brush tool and paint to create a selection.
To partially select pixels, you can paint with shades of gray, or choose black and set the Paintbrush to 50 percent opacity.
Double-click the Quick Mask icon to set preferences for the mask. You can choose whether the color shows the masked or selected areas and change the color and opacity of the mask.
Invert any selection by choosing "Select" and "Inverse."
References
- Photo Credit Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
