Affinity Tutorial - Masking using the Mask Layer and Masking Brushes

This is a tutorial demonstrating how to use the Mask Layer and Brushes to create a custom mask to mask/cut out a photo or paper etc.
I used this technique to cut out the face in this page from a face art background paper from Crafty Art Papers No. 4 {faces} by NBK Design. This technique is also great for cutting out (extracting) people etc from photos, and for blending papers or photos into backgrounds etc.

For this tutorial I am using Affinity Photo.

Affinity Designer.
The steps for this type of masking are the same in Affinity Designer, however you need to switch Designer into to Pixel Persona. By default Designer opens in Designer Persona, which is vector based.

• a = Designer Persona - the default
• b = Pixel Persona - click on this to switch into pixel mode.

The Tutorial Steps.
For this tutorial I am using Affinity Photo, Backdrops No. 1 and the Easy Peasy Cards #74 {Faces} by NBK Design. The background paper is from For Arts Sake #34 {Nostalgic Pastel Fusion Papers} by NBK Design.

Masking to Blend an image.
1. Select the paper (or photo) you want to mask.
2. Click on the Mask Layer icon at the bottom of the layers panel.

3. Goto the brushes tab, and choose the Masking Brush set.
4. Pick a soft brush.
Note: Using a soft brush gives soft edges to your photo, leading the edges to blend slightly with the background.

5. Ensure that the mask layer is selected.
6. Click in the brush tool.

7. With the brush colour set to black, paint out the areas you want to remove. Don't worry about going over bits you want to keep.

8. If needed change the brush colour to white, and then paint back in the parts you accidentally removed
9. Change the brush Colour to grey and paint the parts you want to blend into the background - fading them out.

10. Continue until you have the desired result. Remember Black removes, White reveals, and Grey produces a transparent look.

Masking to Cutout
Repeat steps 1-6 as above, but this time using a Hard brush. Using a hard brush gives clean cut out edges like you would get with a pair of scissors.

7. With the brush colour set to black, paint out the areas you want to remove. Don't worry about going over bits you want to keep.
8. Switch to a smaller brush size if needed and continue painting out the unwanted areas.
9. Change the brush colour to white, and then paint back in the parts you accidentally removed.

10. Continue until you have the desired result. Remember Black removes, White reveals.

 

please add this to the listings @gonewiththewind, thank you.