Quick links to procedures on this page:

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Loading masks and alpha channels

You can modify the current mask in an image by loading a mask saved to an alpha channel.

When you load a mask saved to an alpha channel in the image, you can choose the mask mode that is used to apply the mask. Depending on the mask mode you choose, the saved mask either replaces the current mask or is combined with it.

You can also load a mask or a color mask from disk and replace the current mask. You can apply the mask over a specific image area or over the entire image.

When you load an alpha channel from disk, you can apply the mask saved in the alpha channel to the current image.


To load a mask from an alpha channel

Photo Paint btnbacktotop Loading masks and alpha channels
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In the toolbox, click a mask tool.
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In the Channels docker, choose an alpha channel from the Channels list.
If the Channels docker is not open, click Window Photo Paint onestep Loading masks and alpha channels Dockers Photo Paint onestep Loading masks and alpha channels Channels.
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On the property bar, click one of the following buttons:
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Normal Photo Paint pgx normal mode Loading masks and alpha channels
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Additive Photo Paint pgx additive mode Loading masks and alpha channels
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Subtractive Photo Paint pgx subtractive mode Loading masks and alpha channels
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Overlap — available on the property bar
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Click Mask Photo Paint onestep Loading masks and alpha channels Create Photo Paint onestep Loading masks and alpha channels Channel to mask.

To load a mask from disk

Photo Paint btnbacktotop Loading masks and alpha channels
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Click Mask Photo Paint onestep Loading masks and alpha channels Load Photo Paint onestep Loading masks and alpha channels Load mask from disk.
2.
 
Click a filename.
You can view a thumbnail of the mask.
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Click Open.
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Drag in the image window to define the area to which you want to apply the mask.

Photo Paint tip Loading masks and alpha channels

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You can apply the mask to the entire image by clicking in the image window. If the dimensions of the image in which the mask was created are different from the dimensions of the active image, the mask stretches or compresses to fit the active image.

To load a color mask from disk

Photo Paint btnbacktotop Loading masks and alpha channels
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Click Mask Photo Paint onestep Loading masks and alpha channels Color mask.
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Click the flyout button, and click Open color mask.
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In the Open dialog box, choose the folder where the color mask is stored.
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Double-click the filename.

Photo Paint note Loading masks and alpha channels

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If you load a color mask before you save the current color mask, the current color mask is lost.

To load an alpha channel from disk

Photo Paint btnbacktotop Loading masks and alpha channels
1.
 
In the Channels docker, click the flyout button, and click Open.
If the Channels docker is not open, click Window Photo Paint onestep Loading masks and alpha channels Dockers Photo Paint onestep Loading masks and alpha channels Channels.
2.
 
In the Load an alpha channel from disk dialog box, choose the folder where the alpha channel is stored.
3.
 
Double-click the filename.

Photo Paint note Loading masks and alpha channels

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If you load a mask that was created in an image with different dimensions than those of the active image, the mask stretches or compresses to fit the entire active image; however, the mask’s aspect ratio may change.

Loading masks and alpha channels