Photoshop: Channels and Masks

Introduction

• Welcome to Channels and Masks
• Loading Deke's custom dekeKeys shortcuts
• Adjusting the RGB and CMYK color settings
• Setting up a pro-level workspace
• Thumbnails and transparency

1. How Channels Work

• It all starts with a channel
• Introducing the Channels panel
• How color channels work
• Viewing channels in color
• How RGB works
• Single-channel grayscale
• Drafting a mask with Black & White
• The other 3-channel mode: Lab
• The final color mode: CMYK
• How CMYK works
• Mask in RGB, copy to CMYK

2. How Masks Work

• The alpha channel is home to the mask
• The origin of the alpha channel
• How masks work
• Saving a selection as a layer mask
• Creating an alpha channel
• The Save Selection as Channel icon
• Loading a selection from a channel
• Loading a selection from a layer
• Loading a selection from a different image
• Sweetening the final composition

3. The Color Range Command

• The best selection tools are commands
• A brief Magic Wand refresher
• Introducing the Color Range command
• Working in the Color Range dialog box
• Localized color clusters
• Selecting complex organic details
• Using Color Range to augment a mask
• Finessing and feathering a layer mask
• Creating a zoom effect with Pinch
• Isolating Color Range inside a marquee
• Inverting everything with type
• Increasing the legibility of type

4. Select > Subject

• Just choose a command and let it run
• Introducing Select > Subject
• Select > Subject vs. Color Range
• Combining selections
• Softening edges with the Blur tool
• Smoothing edges with the Smudge tool
• Adding depth of field to a background

5. The Focus Area Command

• The Hail Mary of automated selections
• Edges vs. noise
• A brief Quick Selection refresher
• Expanding a selection with Select > Similar
• Introducing the Focus Area command
• Using the Focus Area brush
• Focus Area vs. Select > Subject
• Bringing in some better hair
• Viewing mask and image at the same time
• Non-destructive feather and density
• Masking a gradient layer

6. Refining Selections and Masks

• The joy of automated refinement
• Introducing Select and Mask
• Applying global refinements
• Edge Detection: Radius and Smart Radius
• Painting with the Refine Edge brush
• Decontaminating colors
• Selecting before you refine
• The legacy Refine Edge command
• Further refining with Refine Mask
• Matching the lighting of your scene

7. Extracting Masks from Channels

• Mastering channel operations
• Introducing the Calculations command
• Previewing channels with Calculations
• Blending two channels together
• Increasing the contrast of a channel
• Filling in regions with the Brush tool
• Using the Add and Subtract modes
• The Black and White Point eyedroppers
• Soft Light, Overlay, and Hard Mix
• Painting with the Overlay mode
• Combining alpha channels to make a mask

8. Compositing: Putting It All Together

• The power of compositing
• Smooth edges and color fringing
• Assigning a shortcut to Refine Edge
• Correcting wispy edges with Refine Mask
• Bolstering hair or fur with a blended layer
• Combining your refined layer masks
• Dressing up a bad background
• Masking a background image
• From alpha channel to filter mask
• Darkening a sky with Gradient Overlay
• Creating a synthetic snow effect
• Enhancing your snowflakes
• Adding a snowflake bokeh on the lens

Conclusion

• Wrapping it all up