The Radial Gradient Mask might at first look similar to a mask created with the Draw Mask brush, but there are some important differences. A Radial Gradient Mask is applied in a non-destructive way, allowing you to adjust the size, shape, rotation, feathering, and position of the mask at any time after it has been created.
You can add multiple Radial Gradient Masks to the same layer by using the Combine Masks feature. This allows you to build more complex mask shapes and apply precise local adjustments to different areas of an image.
Because Radial Gradient Masks remain editable, they are particularly useful when copying adjustments to similar images, as you can easily reposition or modify the mask coverage where needed.
The Radial Gradient Mask consists of three lines:
The inner line represents a 100 percent mask coverage and will thus provide a full effect of the selected image adjustment.
The central line represents a 50 percent mask coverage and will provide a 50% effect of the applied image adjustment. This central line has two functions: you can rotate the mask with it and it has four control handles that are used to change the shape of the mask.
The outside line represents a transition to 0 percent mask coverage and will end the applied image adjustment effect. Think of it as a way to control the mask feathering.
Not only can you control the size, shape, and feathering of the mask, you can also fade the overall effect with the Opacity slider of the Radial Gradient Mask layer.
Learn more about the Radial Gradient Mask in this tutorial.
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