When using masks the image becomes more dim until exiting mask

Forum|Forum|4 days ago
October 2, 2026
3 replies
31 views

When using masks the image dims until the mask is exited.

Correct answer stevenj64887819

Hi, I checked in more detail and it was applying the colour mask on black and white when the image was already black and white. I had to change the image to colour to enable just the colour mask and then I could use it on the black and white image. Thank you for your help.

stevenj64887819Author

Participant

Thank you for the advice. I will check into this further. I do not see a coloured overlay just that the image looks darker. Have a good day.

CORCTON34033231

Community Expert

Hi Steven! What you're seeing is the mask overlay — while you're working in the Masking panel, Lightroom shows an overlay (red by default) over the masked area, which makes the image look dimmed. As soon as you exit masking, the overlay disappears, so the image looks normal again.

If you find it distracting, you can change it in the Masks panel: click the overlay color button (the red dot) or the three-dot menu next to the mask to pick a different overlay color or lower its opacity — or turn the overlay off entirely.

More details: https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom/desktop/edit-photos/masking.html

stevenj64887819AuthorCorrect answer

Participant

Hi, I checked in more detail and it was applying the colour mask on black and white when the image was already black and white. I had to change the image to colour to enable just the colour mask and then I could use it on the black and white image. Thank you for your help.

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