Layer masks are one of the most powerful tools in Photoshop. They let you hide or reveal parts of an image without making permanent changes. Whether you’re blending backgrounds, refining edges, or adjusting selective areas, understanding how to use layer masks effectively will save you time and give you more control.
Coming to you from Aaron Nace with Phlearn, this detailed video walks through the essentials of layer masks. Nace starts by demonstrating how to cut out a subject using Select Subject, then applies a layer mask to remove the background. He explains how masks work—anything white remains visible, anything black disappears. This simple principle is what makes them so useful. You can always adjust a mask later by painting with black or white, making them a flexible, non-destructive way to edit images.
Nace also covers how to refine masks for cleaner selections. Using the Select and Mask dialog, he softens edges with feathering, increases contrast for a sharper cutout, and fine-tunes details like hair with the Refine Edge brush. He shows how to disable a mask temporarily, adjust its opacity with density settings, and use overlay views to see exactly what the mask is affecting. These small refinements help prevent halos, harsh edges, and unwanted background remnants.
The video goes further by demonstrating how to copy masks between layers. Instead of reselecting and masking text manually, Nace drags the existing mask from the subject onto a text layer, instantly creating the illusion of words appearing behind the subject. He also explains how unlinking a mask allows you to move a layer independently while keeping the mask in place. This technique is useful for positioning elements without affecting the mask’s alignment. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Nace.
