Absolute Beginner's Guide to Digital Photography

Quick Mask Mode

Quick Mask mode enables you to paint or draw a

mask that will protect part of an image while you

make changes to other areas. Quick Mask mode

is not available in Photoshop Elements; you must

use the standard Marquee tools to create a selec-

tion in this program.

To become better acquainted with Quick Mask

mode, keep your test image open and follow

these steps:

1. Choose the Lasso tool and create a selec-
   tion around some object in the image (see
   Figure 11.6).


2. Click Quick Mask on, and select the Brush
   (or other painting tool) from the Toolbox.


3. Select white as the foreground color by clicking the arrow above the black-
   and-white swatches.


4. In the Tool Options Bar, set the Brush to 100 percent opacity and Normal
   mode.


5. Paint over the area you want to turn into a selection. The white appears as a
   transparent overlay. If you paint beyond the area you want to select, switch
   the foreground color to black by clicking on the inverse arrows. Paint white
   on the parts you want to remove from the selection.

156 ABSOLUTE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TODIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

FIGURE 11.5

The Single

Column and

Single Row

Marquee tools

are primarily

used to create

black horizontal

and vertical

lines.

If you change the

feather amount for row

or column, you might

see a warning and then

not be able to see the

selected area. The selection is still

there. Zoom out, then choose Edit,

Fill and you’ll see that the selection

is still real. Choose Edit, Undo to

revert back.

caution