Known Participant

Answered

Can't paste image into layer mask

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
May 22, 2020
7 replies
52620 views

I don't know why, but for some reason I can't post an image into a layer mask. I alt clicked it, it's editable, but pasting doesn't have any effect.

Correct answer Bojan Živković11378569

If you are copying content of layer which is embedded in your document do the following:

Select layer which content you want to copy in the Layers panel.
Ctrl + click on the layer thumbnail to select its content or if content is covering entire document use Ctrl + A.
Edit > Copy.
Ctrl + D to deselect.
Alt + click on layer Mask.
Edit > Paste.

D

Dmitry34091910x7of

Participating Frequently

Hi there, I have the same problem pasting onto a layer mask. Have you managed to resolve yours?

Thank you!

I

Ian33069425ohxv

New Participant

I too am having the exact problem. I am following what people have said here exactly and it still simply will not paste in. All objects have been rasterized. I think it might be a mac thing.

Nia Rae

New Participant

I am having the same exact issue, following all steps - nothing will paste into mask.

Bojan Živković11378569

Community Expert

I spoted potential problem. To paste on mask, Alt + click on mask, in video it shows Alt + D what is incorrect.

Bojan Živković11378569Correct answer

Community Expert

If you are copying content of layer which is embedded in your document do the following:

Select layer which content you want to copy in the Layers panel.
Ctrl + click on the layer thumbnail to select its content or if content is covering entire document use Ctrl + A.
Edit > Copy.
Ctrl + D to deselect.
Alt + click on layer Mask.
Edit > Paste.

A

arnoudh25213001Author

Known Participant

That did it, thanks. I'm familliar with ctrl+clicking the layer, but hadn't imagined needing it here.

Thanks for sticking by 🙂

Bojan Živković11378569

Community Expert

I was also able to paste content on layer mask after Alt + clicking on it inside latest Ps on Win machine. Perhaps problem is in step when you copy content because from what I can see yu have handles on screenshot and it seems you have entered Free Transform after pasting content. I was able to reproduce that after copying pure white content to clipboard and pasting it on layer mask. This is one of possible reasons why things does not work as expected.

A

arnoudh25213001Author

Known Participant

Alright, but how do I format the image in such a way that I can copy it into the layer mask? I don't see any options for it so far

JJMack

Community Expert

I find that Paste replaces the Layer mask it does not blend the clipboard into the existing layer mask. You would would need to paste the image into a new alpha channel then use calculations the blend the two channels into the layer mask you seem to want to create.

JJMack

PECourtejoie

Community Expert

Hello, which version of Photoshop? 21.1.3?

It worked for me.

A

arnoudh25213001Author

Known Participant

me too actually

JJMack

Community Expert

What you can do is add a new empty Alpha channel and Paste in the clipboard the create the layer mask selection you want to to add to the layer mask. You can then use calculation to blend in the layer mask or you may simply want to delete the existing layer mask and add the alpha channels as the new layer mask

.

JJMack

Community Expert

Alt clicking on a layer mask will target the layer mask and it will be displayed in the image window as a gray scale mask. You should be able to paint on it and use adjustments to modify the layer mask. Paste will create a new layer in the current document that will contain the contents of the clipboard.

JJMack

Community Expert

What you can do is add a new empty Alpha channel and Paste in the clipboard the create the layer mask selection you want to to add to the layer mask. You can then use calculation to blend in the layer mask or you may simply want to delete the existing layer mask and add the alpha channels as the mew layer mask.