What Image-Masking is and How It Works?
In 2019, almost 95% of users across the web and mobile platforms preferred seeing products on a dark screen instead of a white screen. And often, to display things on a different background, you need to perform image masking. Image masking is a tricky but essential topic in photo editing and so, if you find yourself in need of a perfect image masking service, jump right in.
Image masking is just as necessary as any other concept in photo editing that allows you to hid e a specific part of an image. Unlike using an eraser to obliterate a part of the image, this is a non-destructive approach to redesigning an image without having to erase an image partially completely. Unfortunately, the concept of image masking isn’t easily understandable for beginners so, let’s clear it with a relatable example.
You know how everyone must wear a mask and take additive precautions to stay away from the coronavirus. The cover protects you from the virus and also conceals a specific part of the face under the mask without removing it. That is how image masking works. It hides a particular part of the image under another layer which can be done using image masking.
How Does Image Masking Work?
Photo masking or image masking is done by selecting and isolating the image’s subject that needs to be extracted, and it is done using the clipping path method. The way image masking works is dependent on the use of two colors, namely — black and white.
The layers either hide or show a specific part of the image, and this is where the two colors, black and white, comes into play. Remember, ‘black seals and reveals. This phrase alone is enough to make you understand which color to use based on what you want to do.
Different Types of Image Masking
Layer Masking
Layer masking is used to show or hide a specific part of an image by changing the opacity of the picture. Changing the opacity of the photograph helps to customize the appearance without removing any elements from it. But, on the downside, you can notice partially dark shades due to the changed opacity of the background image.
Alpha Channel Masking
To edit the brightness, contrast, exposure, and background change, you need to use the Alpha masking technique. This technique allows you to alter these properties of an image while retaining the image quality.
Hair Masking
It is needed when an image with many details like hair and fur needs to be removed from the image for a soft edge. Clipping path is an inefficient way to clip the subject in cases where the image has a lot of fine details, and so, can use hair masking to make the objects look more natural in front of a different background.
Refine Masking
That is another technique that allows highly detailed objects like — human hair, animal fur, fabrics, loom, trees, grass, etc., to retain their naturality. Finally, refine masking is used to alter the image to create softer edges to give the subject a natural look.
Transparent Masking
Objects having 0–5% opacity is where you need to apply a transparent masking technique. Photoshop experts use fine and pixel masking techniques when they want the light to pass through the object, such as — the reflection in the glass and other similar things.
Translucent Masking
This technique is favorable on objects having 5–100% opacity on image objects. That is because light passes through these objects quite quickly, such as — through sunglasses, frosted glass, paper, plastic bottles, fabrics, etc.
Why Do You Need Image Masking?
A lot of reasons call for perfect image masking, and some of them are given below:
1. Remove unwanted background from images.
2. Isolate the desired part of the image to be used on different backdrops
3. Create a transparent look
4. Create images for ads, banners, magazine covers, brochures, etc.
5. For creating collage images
Who Needs an Image Masking Service?
Perfectly editing a photo is essential to set the tone and the message the picture should portray. And so, it is necessary to remove the background of an image and edit it appropriately to get the customer’s attention.
This service is essential for services like e-commerce sites that require uploading new product images frequently, publishing houses that require image editing on the go, and other businesses. In most cases, these businesses need a dedicated team of experts for photo editing, and this is where a top-notch image masking service comes in.
In Conclusion
Customers demand quality, expertise, and timely delivery — the three things that you can expect from a team of experts from an image masking service. Although the automation of tools has made it easier to edit photos on the go, it is not as perfect as many people would expect, which always brings this kind of service that offers top-notch service. Now you know what image masking is and how it works.
