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MarshalSerna
Known Participant
October 20, 2026
Answered

Photoshop iPad - Touch Shortcut as Option key, create black layer mask?

Photoshop on iPad - Is there a way to set the Touch Shortcut to act as the Option key does on MacOS when creating a layer mask, instantly creating a black mask?
 

The best solution I’ve found - without a keyboard - is to tap the mask icon, then the filter icon, then select invert. Of course that works, but… the Touch Shortcut is just… right there.

    CORCTON34033231
    CORCTON34033231Correct answer
    Community Expert
    October 21, 2026

    Hi MarshalSerna,

     

    Unfortunately, no — the Touch Shortcut can't be set to work as a general Option/Alt key. In the official doc, for each selected tool it only offers up to two fixed alternate actions (for example, with the Brush tool: primary = Eraser, secondary = Eyedropper), and creating a mask isn't one of the listed tool actions. So there's no Touch Shortcut state to hold while tapping the mask icon to get a black mask directly.

     

    Your workaround is still the way to do it without a keyboard: add the (white) mask first, then Invert it to make it black.

     

    Official doc: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/ipad/get-started/shortcuts-and-gestures/touch-gesture-shortcuts-ipad.html

     

    Hope that clears it up!

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    1 reply

    CORCTON34033231
    Community Expert
    CORCTON34033231Community ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    October 21, 2026

    Hi MarshalSerna,

     

    Unfortunately, no — the Touch Shortcut can't be set to work as a general Option/Alt key. In the official doc, for each selected tool it only offers up to two fixed alternate actions (for example, with the Brush tool: primary = Eraser, secondary = Eyedropper), and creating a mask isn't one of the listed tool actions. So there's no Touch Shortcut state to hold while tapping the mask icon to get a black mask directly.

     

    Your workaround is still the way to do it without a keyboard: add the (white) mask first, then Invert it to make it black.

     

    Official doc: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/ipad/get-started/shortcuts-and-gestures/touch-gesture-shortcuts-ipad.html

     

    Hope that clears it up!

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