Painting on a layer mask. Masks are incredibly useful for blending photos and hiding portions of images without altering them directly.

In this tutorial we’ll learn to use the Brush Palette and Layer Masks.

1. Open a new document, at least 200 dpi for good printing. Open your photograph and copy Ctrl-C and paste as a new layer Ctrl-L onto your new document. (The example photo in this tutorial has been altered using the Levels command.)

2. Make a new layer by clicking on the two-paper icon at the top left of the Layers Palette, name it Mask, click OK.

3. Fill the new Mask layer with white, using the Flood Fill Tool.

4. Lower the opacity of the Mask slightly to reveal the photo underneath.

5. Add a layer mask by clicking on the mask icon at the top of the Layers Palette, or Layers>New Mask Layer>Show All.

6. Choose the Eraser Tool, color white, and select a soft, round brush from the Brush Drop Down Menu.

7. On the mask, erase using fast zig-zagging motions to reveal the photo on Layer 1. Choose the Brush tool, color white, and paint to cover the photo back over. Undo and redo the painting until you are satisfied with the results: but don’t obsess!

8. Optional: Change the opacity of the eraser or brush in the Options Bar at the top of the screen, or instead of white use shades of gray, if you want to reveal less of the photograph.

9. Return the opacity of the Mask Layer to 100%. Link the photo layer, the Mask layer, and the mask by by scrolling over in the Layers Palette and clicking the Layer Link toggle “None” to number 1 on each layer, and use the Move Tool to position on the photo on the canvas as desired. Use the Flood Fill Tool to fill the Mask layer with white after you move it.

10. Add dark gray text on a new vector layer. Add a layer mask to the text layer and use a low opacity eraser to soften and variegate it. Add a drop shadow in Effects>3D>Drop Shadow. Add the date and you’re done!

Notes: Layer masks are a function of opacity. Imagine putting a piece of paper over a photograph: the photo is hidden, and only the paper, or “mask” is visible.
Use scissors to cut a hole in the mask paper, and reveal the photo underneath.
Digital masks work in the same basic way. When you erase the mask, you are “cutting” the mask away to reveal what’s beneath.
Any white part of the mask is opaque, and black part is transparent, and any shades of gray are varying opacities. Try changing the color and shape of the brush to experiment with the results!