Freehand Masks

Use the freehand mask to draw a mask around the appropriate area of the current layer. In the following example, a freehand mask is used to completely isolate the subject (Little Mermaid) from its original background and composite it over the back layer.

To draw a freehand mask:

1. Select the front layer (the layer to which you want to add a mask).
2. Choose Operators | Mask | Draw Mask.

The selected layer is loaded into the mask operator.

3. Click the Toolbar tab.
4. On the Toolbar, click the Freehand Mask tool and enable Make Curves.



Note: To refine the edges of the freehand mask with control points after you finish drawing it, you should enable Make Curve before drawing the mask. (If you forget, you can select the freehand mask object, then choose Object | Make Curve.)

5. In the viewport, draw the mask around the subject you want to isolate.

Note: Make sure Invert is disabled if you want the mask to remove the area outside the mask shape and keep the area inside the mask shape.

6. To refine the mask, select it, then click the Control Points option .

Control points appear around the mask.



7. Refine the mask as needed.
8. Click the Back button to return to the composite and see the results of the masking operation.