Well, basically it would be the equivalent of deleting the whole layer.
As for creating layer masks, there are so many ways to move layer masks around, swap them, group layers, smart objects etc - I really think you need to present a very compelling case why this would be needed.
Well, I'd like to have a ‘Layer Mask’ that I can modify in a NON-destructive way!
OK, I can hide a part of a lyer with a "layer mask".
BUT, if the shape is very complex (in the "layer mask"), and I want to modify the contents of the "Layer mask" -> Well, the "Layer mask" is modified in a DESTRUCTIVE way (they are pixels).
I'm looking for a way for hide a part of a layer, with a "Layer mask" which could be modified (itself) in a non-destrcucitve way).
The ‘Clear’ blend mode seemed to me to be a way of getting round the problem... But it doesn't exist in the layers...
How do I modify a ‘layer Mask’ in a NON-DESTRUCTIVE way?
I would have loved to have been able to put a "Folder" (with all contents) as ‘Layer Mask’ file. But none of this is possible.
A ‘Layer Mask’ can ‘simply’ be a pixel layer of grey values... This seems to me to be VERY VERY limited...
I'm an illustrator and I'm looking for creative ways to express myself!
I still don't understand how having a layer mask to a "dead" layer is non-destructive any more than any other layer mask?
If I need to work on a mask extensively, without affecting the image in any way until I'm ready for it, I just put it on a Levels layer without any adjustments. Then when I'm done, I move it to the intended layer. That's just one way; there are others.
What I do agree on, is that it would be nice to use, say, smart filters or adjustment layers on a mask. That's been suggested a few times, and is a feature request I support. In short, "smart masks". But that's a whole other story than blend modes.
Exemple: If I draw a shape (in a part of my top layer with blend mode "Clear" (that I wish)). Then, this Shape It would be the only part to be erased (masked if grey)the bottom layer !
With all due respect. I'm sorry, but NO ! If the layer content is TRANSPARENT, it affects NOTHING (whatever the blend mode)!
Only parts that contain pixels (a brushstroke, for example) will affect the layer below 😉
And... by extension. With a layer in ‘clear’ blend mode, I can hide a parts of the layer below transparent (not all: ONLY the part that contain pixles on the top layer) !
The clear blend mode on a layer does not make sense.
However, your sum up which was the ability to have multiple layer masks on a single layer and blend them together does make sense. It is done this way in Substance Painter where multiple layer masks can be added to a single layer and each of those layer masks has its own opacity control and blend mode which describes how it interacts with the other layer masks on the same layer (clear blend mode does not appear as a mask has to be black white or grey, never transparent).
I would love to see this ability in Photoshop, and it sounds like it would achieve the outcome you are requesting.
"Only parts that contain pixels (a brushstroke, for example) will affect the layer below"
I don't think I'm getting this across. You are talking about a layer property.
Nothing in that "clear" layer would affect anything below. Pixels, no pixels, mask, no mask - the whole layer would be invisible and for all practical purposes not there at all. A blend mode does not affect the underlying layers. It gives the current blend layer a "filter" property, based on the interaction between them, thus altering the finished result.
Anyway. Let's discuss what you really want, non-destructive mask editing, which I'm all for. That has been posted as a feature request several times, and I'd vote for it.
Just to add to what Dave says, a single layer can have multiple masks, each with its own opacity. You do this by grouping , and you can have many nested groups. But it's still limited to subtract and intersect, the smallest mask limits the others.
The blending mode (of layers) only works where there are pixels.
Here's an example:
The ‘Cyan brushstroke’ layer is in DIFFERENCE blend mode.
This layer is completely transparent, with only a line of paint (colour: 100% cyan).
This layer is in DIFFERENCE blend mode.
When all the layers are displayed. The result is that ONLY PART of the sky appears in red (NOT THE WHOLE IMAGE). ONLY the part of the sky where the blue line is (from the ‘Cyan brushstroke’ layer).
If the ‘Clear’ blending mode existed for layers. The result would be that ONLY the part painted blue (from the ‘Cyan brushstroke’ layer) would be DELETED (made invisible). NOT THE ENTIRE layer! Only the part that contains my blue line!
3 layers (or many more) (with as many settings as you can imagine) can act as a ‘Merge mask’ 😍😍😍
You are my HERO !!!
This trick seems almost UNKNOWN to me, doesn't it?
Two comments though: 1) A folder is necessary, in order to limit the effect. Otherwise, it will ‘pierce’ the entire photoshop file. 2) A ‘Clear’ Blend Mode would seem to me to be the simplest way of achieving this!
There are two knockout modes - shallow and deep. Shallow goes down to the next 'stop point' which could be a layer outside the group or the clipping mask. Deep goes all the wway to the bottom layer, if it is a background layer, or transparency if it is not.
I still believe that a clear blend mode would not make sense and would not have the control available from knockouts. Remember a brush clear blend mode only interacts with the pixels on the layer being brushed onto. A layer clear blend mode would interact with the entire image formed by the layer(s) below - which is what a knockout set to 'deep' does.
Yes, I can see that. And your tip will help me a lot. However, I still prefer the ‘Clear’ merge mode for TWO reasons:
ONE) Ease of use: The current method (via ‘Layer Style’), requires the following sequence of operations: 1) Double-click on the layer = Open Layer Style 2) Click on "Blending options" 3) Go to "Advance Blending" -> lower the "Fil Opacity" to 0%. 4) "knockout" section -> Choose the corresponding option (Shallow or Deep) 5) Click OK (to close the window) 6) Return to the Layers panel -> Create a folder 7) Place the desired elements in the folder (to limit the masking effect) END
IF the "Clear" blend mode existed, the operations would be as follows: 1) Select the "Clear" blend mode 2) Set the layer to "Clipping mask". END
Note:
What's more... having folders all over the place (in order to limit this effect) will make the layer panel unnecessarily heavy (I use a lot of blend masks). The primary function of a folder is to group elements together. NOT to limit an effect...
TWO) Logic of how Photoshop works The "Clear" blend mode would be immediately available, alongside the other blend modes. Available and EASY to find.
The tip (that you showed me) is invaluable (and I thank you sincerely). BUT without your help (and this forum), I would NEVER have found this way of doing things, hidden deep in the "Layer Style" settings.
How many people miss out on this brilliant option ? Because it's "very different" compared to the rest of Photoshop (to obtain a blend mode).
Especially as the "Clear" blend mode already exists (for the brush) (there's NOTHING new to program)! All you need to do is add it to the list of blend modes in the layer panel !
I still think you're missing the big picture. You're focusing on the brushstroke - but this isn't the brushstroke, or a shape or whatever, it's the whole layer.
If you have two pixel layers, just images, no brushstrokes, and the top one is in clear mode - how would you expect that to look? If this is to behave consistently, I would expect that top layer to be completely invisible. In other words, it wouldn't matter if you put a brushstroke there; it would be invisible and for all practical purposes not there.
I'm not pretending to understand the math of blend modes, but for blend modes to be useful they have to behave in a consistent and predictable way. They can't just be convenient ad hoc tricks to achieve a certain effect that you want.
As Dave has brilliantly demonstrated, what you want can be achieved with existing methods.
That's the whole layer. That's the way it is. I'm not missing anything. I understand the role of blend modes (which I use daily) 😊
My original request was simply to have the "Clear" blend mode for layers. This would be VERY USEFUL, and would NOT delete the entire layer AT ALL, for all the reasons I explained above (have you read me?).
Transparency is the key to all this 😉 Thank you all for your help. You guys are awesome. Thank you 😍
PS: I'm still holding out hope that one day I'll see the "Clear" blend mode for layers!
There is a point raised by Cyan_282 that is very valid these days and that is the discoverability of some functionality.
When I started with Photoshop (back with v7.0) an almost compulsory purchase was the Photoshop Bible. It was a very thick and comprehensive book that served both as a reference and a guide that you could thumb through and discover useful functions. Online searches only work as long as you know what to search for. I still have that v7.0 book and the chapter on Blending and Knockouts covers it comprehensively.
Another example would be how many users know about the Capture function in Photoshop? Hint - it is at the bottom of the library panel when you select My Libraries and click on the + symbol then select Extract from Image from the menu that opens.
My point is that there is a lot of useful functionality in Photoshop that users need pointing to. We often see requests for functionality that exists, and we need better guides and reference docs so that users can easily discover them. Some of the LinkedIn learning courses are quite good at pulling out these functions but a printed reference guide is easy to flick through.
Perhaps this example will make my work with TRANSPARENCY easier to understand. I'm not trying to convince you. Just to express the way I use transparency.
Here is my work: - Calque_1 = Completely filled with 100% opaque BLACK pixels -> BUT rendered slightly TRANSPARENT with a layer mask - Layer "Blue": 100% opaque BLUE pixels - Layer "Green": 100% opaque GREEN pixels
So here I am with 3 layers, all 100% OPAQUE
The 100% mask is applied to the "Blue" layer using the "Layer Style". But this doesn't mean that the layer is completely erased!
Some blue appears in the image 😉 Magic 😊
The result would be the same with a ‘Clear’ blending mode (but quicker to perform). I hope you have a good weekend,
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