How to Create a Layer Mask in Photoshop: A Friendly Guide You’ll Actually Use
Have you ever edited a product photo and thought, “There’s got to be a cleaner way to blend this background”? That was me—late at night, working on a jewelry shoot for an Etsy seller. The diamonds looked great, but the white background was a mess. I didn’t want to erase anything permanently, so I searched: How to create a layer mask in Photoshop . That’s when everything clicked. I discovered layer masks, and they instantly changed how I edited images. Whether you're a fashion brand touching up model shots, a real estate pro replacing dull skies, or a Shopify seller making product backgrounds pop—layer masks give you clean, non-destructive control. Let me walk you through how I learned to use them—and how you can too, step-by-step, without feeling overwhelmed. What Is a Layer Mask in Photoshop? (Quick Answer) A layer mask lets you hide or reveal parts of a layer without deleting them . Think of it as putting a transparent sticker on your image. You can paint on the stic...