10 Photoshop Techniques You Can't Work Without:

 

9. Layer Mask Instead of Eraser:

Summary: Ever erase part of an object early on in a project only to regret it much later? The eraser is a useful tool, but a better technique is layer masking. Once a layer mask is applied, paint on it with black or white to reversibly erase or unerase parts of the image.

 

 

 

Shown: Here we have a logo image layer. Our goal is to remove 5 of the spikes on its left-hand side.

 

 

Step 1: With "Layer 2" selected, Click the "Add Layer Mask" button. A new layer mask thumbnail will appear, as shown.

 

 

Step 2: Select the Brush Tool (shortcut "B") and set the foreground color to black (#000000). Start painting away the unwanted spikes.

 

 

Shown: All 5 spikes have been masked out.

 

 

Shown: This is what the layer mask looks like. Black portions mask out the original image, white portions allow the original image to show through.

 

 

Step 3: Switch foreground color to white (#FFFFFF) and repaint the spike tips. Notice the flexibility of switching colors to erase/unerase the original image.