The provided reference briefly mentions "hover auto masking," which seems to be a related feature, but doesn't explicitly describe how to turn on a standard "auto mask" function in Photoshop. Therefore, I will answer assuming you're referring to features that automatically create masks while you paint or select.
Here's a breakdown of features related to creating automatic masks in Photoshop:
Understanding Auto Masking Features in Photoshop
Photoshop offers several features that provide a degree of automatic masking, primarily through brush settings and selection tools. These can help you create masks more efficiently.
1. Auto-Masking with Brushes (Color Range Masking)
While there isn't a single button labeled "Auto Mask," you can achieve similar results with brush settings that respond to color.
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Functionality: These settings allow your brush to paint only within a specific color range, effectively creating a form of automatic masking.
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How to Use:
- Select the Brush Tool (B).
- Open the Brushes panel (Window > Brushes).
- Explore brush settings like:
- Protect Texture: Helps maintain texture details while painting. Useful when masking intricate patterns or textures.
- Build-up: Allows you to build up the color gradually, essential for subtle color masking transitions.
- Also consider experimenting with the "Wet Edges" and "Airbrush" settings to achieve different masking effects.
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Limitations: This method is not a true automatic mask, but it helps constrain brush strokes within defined color boundaries.
2. "Select Subject" or "Select Object" for Automatic Masking
Photoshop's AI-powered selection tools offer a more direct approach to automatic masking.
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Functionality: These tools automatically detect and select the main subject or an object in your image. You can then easily create a mask from this selection.
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How to Use:
- Open your image in Photoshop.
- Go to Select > Subject (for selecting the main subject) or use the Object Selection Tool (W) to click on a specific object.
- Photoshop will automatically attempt to select the subject/object.
- Once the selection is made, click the "Add Layer Mask" button at the bottom of the Layers panel (it looks like a rectangle with a circle in the middle). This converts your selection into a mask.
- Refine the mask: Use the Brush tool with black or white paint to add or subtract from the mask, respectively.
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Benefits: This is a truly "automatic" masking method, leveraging AI to identify and isolate objects.
3. Range Masking (Within Color Grading Tools)
Some color grading tools offer range masking options, like luminance or color range masks.
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Functionality: Allows you to create a mask based on the brightness values or color values in an image.
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How to Use (Example using Camera Raw Filter):
- Go to Filter > Camera Raw Filter...
- In the Camera Raw dialog, select the Masking panel (circle icon).
- Click one of the mask icons such as "Select Subject", "Select Sky", "Brush", or "Linear Gradient".
- Create the initial mask using that tool.
- Then, add or refine the initial mask by choosing the "Add" or "Subtract" operations, and using another mask option.
- For example: add a "Color Range" mask to an initial mask. This creates a combined mask with a selected color range.
4. Hover Auto-Masking
The video snippet you provided references "Hover Auto-Masking". The method will likely be similar to the above using one of the Select options from the masking panel. Or it may use the method described above in section 1 using Brush Settings. Holding down the option or alt key on a PC might be part of the technique.
Conclusion
While there isn't a simple "auto mask" on/off switch, Photoshop offers various methods for creating masks automatically or semi-automatically. The best approach depends on the image and the specific masking task. AI-powered selection tools provide the most direct route to automatic masking. Remember to refine the automatically generated masks for optimal results.