How to Add a Layer Mask in Photoshop

Adding a layer mask in Photoshop is a powerful tool for controlling the transparency and visibility of different parts of a layer. Here are the steps to add a layer mask in Photoshop:

1. Open your Photoshop document and select the layer you want to add a mask to. 2. At the bottom of the Layers panel, click on the "Add Layer Mask" button. It's the rectangle with a circle inside of it. 3. A layer mask will appear next to the layer thumbnail in the Layers panel. 4. Click on the layer mask to make sure it is selected. You will know it is selected when a white box appears around the layer mask thumbnail. 5. Choose the Brush tool from the toolbar on the left-hand side of the screen. 6. Select the color black as your foreground color in the toolbar. 7. Use the brush tool to paint over the areas of the layer that you want to hide. The areas that you paint black on the layer mask will become transparent. 8. If you need to reveal any parts of the layer that you have hidden, switch your foreground color to white and paint over those areas on the layer mask. 9. You can also use the Gradient tool to create a gradient on the layer mask, which can create a smooth transition from opaque to transparent or vice versa. 10. Adjust the opacity and feathering of the layer mask to fine-tune the effect.

That's it! With these steps, you can add a layer mask in Photoshop and control the transparency and visibility of different parts of a layer.