Combining gradient and selection masks

[Ray Rozema]

Hello

I would like to create a mask that combines a gradient layer mask with standard selection layer mask

Thanks for your help

Ray

[Stephen Marsh]

Copy/dupe one of the layer masks to a new alpha channel (or load the mask as a selection).

Then select the other layer mask so that it's accessible. You can then use Apply Image or Calculations to "stamp" the duped source channel to the target channel, or use the selection to fill in black or white etc.

[Conrad_C]

If the problem is that you need to keep the two masks separate, but Photoshop allows only one pixel mask per layer, one workaround is to put the layer in a layer group (folder). Then you add one mask to the layer and another mask to its containing layer group, as shown in the demo below. It’s OK for it to be the only layer in the group.

[Ray Rozema]

Thanks for the information.. My goal was to  apply an adjustment layer to darken the background but in graded fashion but not darken the subject. It seems to work if I put the adjustment layer above the group layer and link it to the group layer. 

Of note per another post, if working with non gradient masks , they can be combined into a new mask by ctrl +clk the first mask and ctrl+shift+clk the second mask which combines the 2 selections into 1 selection.  Then make a new mask on a new layer based on the 2 combined selctions you just made. As best as I can tell this does work with gradient masks

Thanks 

Ray

[c.pfaffenbichler]

[Conrad_C]

Glad it helped Ray. It’s unfortunate that we have to do this because Photoshop masking is limited in some ways. The layer group mask workaround I suggested certainly isn’t the only workaround, depending on what you’re trying to achieve because they have different effects. Combining selections (that someone else suggested) is one way, sometimes I store the original selections in Channels and then combine them. Another way is to add a mask to a layer, then make the layer into a Smart Object and add a mask to that. 

Sometimes I take advantage of the fact that each Photoshop layer can have one pixel mask and one vector (path) mask. If it’s OK for one of the masks to have a uniform edge, I’ll make that one a vector mask (which can be feathered), and put the gradient or whatever in the pixel mask.

A lot of us hope that some day those workarounds won’t be needed. I now do a lot of masked adjustments in Camera Raw/Lightroom Classic because of their great new nondestructive masking system that can do things Photoshop can’t, such as mask groups, range masks, and mask operations (Add, Subtract, Intersect).

When I want to combine a selection mask with a gradient mask in Camera Raw for example, I’ll create the selection mask, then use Intersect to add the gradient mask, so that the gradient stays inside the selection mask, both masks are in the same mask group, and the whole thing is easily editable (nondestructive). If you want to try this on your Photoshop layer, you can choose Filter > Camera Raw Filter. So, using the masks in the Camera Raw filter is another workaround.

For us to not need all these workarounds, Photoshop will need to overhaul its masking. An example of how it might work would be the popular Photoshop competitor with the initials A.P., where you get additional capabilities like multiple masks per layer — really cool.

[Ray Rozema]

Thanks very much for all the information.

Ray Rozema

[D Fosse]

Yeah, I always use Conrad's method of grouping. Not only convenient, but that way you can work on each mask individually.