5.3.4. Image color masks

Image color masks are used to isolate an area of the image based on a color selection. Any color in the image can be selected, to create a mask containing a range of RGB values similar to the selected color.

There are no viewer controls, but the viewer provides a real-time representation of the current mask selection, like the example in the second image above.

Sidebar controls

• Pipette: Used to select a color to base your mask on. Click on the pipette to open selection loupe, then move it over your image to find the color you wish to select. Click again to select that color for the mask.
• Invert: Toggles between retaining (the default) or removing the selected color range.
• Spectrum selection indicator: Provides a visual representation to see and modify the range of colors selected.
  • Center point: Indicates the base color from which the selection extends. To change the color, click anywhere in the spectrum and drag sideways to shift the base color, or use the pipette to select a different specific color from your image.
  • White edges: Indicate the entire range of colors that is included in the selection. Drag any edge to adjust the range of colors in the selection
• Softness: Softens the selection at the edges of the selected color range. Increasing softness often creates more natural results when adjustments are applied to a color selection.
• Protect skintones: Prevents skin tones from being included in the selection. Effective for retaining accurate, natural skin tones when applying color shifts or adjustments to the image.
• Protect greys: Higher values exclude neutral mid-tones with low saturation from the selection
• Protect black/white: Higher values exclude the darkest and brightest areas of the image from the selection. This is frequently useful for preventing over-saturation of color noise in the shadow areas of your image.