Duplicating masks in Photoshop can be a quick and easy way to re-use the same mask for a different effect. This works especially well with complicated masks that would be difficult and time-consuming to re-create.
Steps to duplicating masks in Photoshop
The fastest way to duplicate a mask is this:
- First, press and hold the Opt (Mac) or Alt (Win) key
- Then, click and drag one mask to the other layer
That’s it! You’ll probably see a pop-up window when you do this, asking you to confirm that you want to replace the layer mask (click YES To confirm). If you want to ignore this for future layer mask replacements, check the box in the window before you continue.
Want to learn more?
This is a sample lesson from my new Photoshop training, Layers & Masks. The video below shows the style and pace of the course, so you can get a good feel for what the training is like. (Plus you’ll get to learn something along the way!) Head over to the main product page to learn more.
Watch the video tutorial
Watch the video below to learn how and why you would want to duplicate a mask in Photoshop, along with an example that shows step-by-step instruction to complete this technique. Or, go here to watch the video on YouTube
Duplicating masks in Photoshop can be a quick and easy way to re-use the same mask for a different effect. This works especially well with complicated masks that would be difficult and time-consuming to re-create.
Steps to duplicating masks in Photoshop
The fastest way to duplicate a mask is this:
- First, press and hold the Opt (Mac) or Alt (Win) key
- Then, click and drag one mask to the other layer
That’s it! You’ll probably see a pop-up window when you do this, asking you to confirm that you want to replace the layer mask (click YES To confirm). If you want to ignore this for future layer mask replacements, check the box in the window before you continue.
Want to learn more?
This is a sample lesson from my new Photoshop training, Layers & Masks. The video below shows the style and pace of the course, so you can get a good feel for what the training is like. (Plus you’ll get to learn something along the way!) Head over to the main product page to learn more.
Watch the video tutorial
Watch the video below to learn how and why you would want to duplicate a mask in Photoshop, along with an example that shows step-by-step instruction to complete this technique. Or, go here to watch the video on YouTube
Nicole is a photographer, published author, and educator specializing in Lightroom, Photoshop, and photography. She is best known for her books on food photography but is widely versed in various photographic genres, including landscape, nature, stock, travel, and experimental imagery.
