how to see a mask

[maxegb]

hello everyone,

i am adding a mask on a layer and i would like to see where i am painting it. option clicking (alt clicking ) on it shows only the mask,while i would like to see where i paint on the image ( i am thinking something like the refine selection screen).

Is there a way to do this?

Thankl!

[Lisbon]

Hi maxegb

See if this works for you.

Add a red fill layer with 50% opacity below the masked layer.
Sometimes instead of red i fill with green.

Edited August 6, 2022 by Lisbon
I added a cat.

[maxegb]

good idea, thanks!

[NotMyFault]

Another option if you try to blend 2 layers using a mask:

you can reduce the impact of the mask by nesting (to masking position) a channels mixer adjustment to the mask layer, and adjust the alpha channel offset to +50%.

This will let shine through the lower layer, which is very helpful if you need to reveal from a mask and want to see the lower layer during the process.

[thomaso]

14 hours ago, maxegb said:

( i am thinking something like the refine selection screen)

A workaround (via pixel selection) would press "Q" for Quick Mask to activate a red colour overlay for unmasked areas / no colour for the masking brush.

https://affinity.help/photo/English.lproj/index.html?page=pages/Selections/editSelectionAsLayer.html?title=Edit selection as layer using Quick Mask

[nickbatz]

I've done what Lisbon wrote, only simpler: just reduce the top layer's opacity temporarily.