How to Use Layers, Layer Masks and Clipping Masks in Smart Photo Selection

How layers are organised on an album sheet

Open a sheet and select the Layers tab in the right-hand panel. The list is in stacking order: the layer at the top of the list is drawn on top of the sheet. AI-generated sheets and library templates arrive already split into layers, so a hero photo, its supporting photos, the exposure photos, text and background are all separate entries you can select, move and change.

When a layer is selected, the bar at the top of the Layers panel shows its blend mode and Opacity. The footer buttons add a photo, text, rectangle or paint layer, add a layer mask, move the layer up or down, duplicate it (Ctrl+J) and delete it (Del). Right-click any layer for Rename, Duplicate, Lock, Hide and the clipping commands.

Create layers

1. 1

   Add a photo layer

   Choose Layer › New photo layer…, or press Add Photo in the top bar, then pick photos from Album photos, Booking gallery or From computer.

2. 2

   Add text or a shape

   Use Layer › New text layer, New rectangle or New ellipse. The Shape tool (U) also draws polygons and lines.

3. 3

   Add a paint layer

   Use Layer › New paint layer before painting with the Brush (B). Brush strokes stay on that layer, so you can lower its opacity or delete it later.

4. 4

   Rename and organise

   Double-click or right-click › Rename so layers such as “Hero – couple” or “Exposure – bride” are easy to find. Use Bring forward / Send backward (Layer menu) to change the stacking order.

Hide part of a layer with a layer mask

A layer mask hides pixels instead of erasing them. White areas of the mask show the layer, black areas hide it, and soft brush edges create gradual fades. You can always paint the hidden part back.

1. 1

   Select the layer

   Click the photo in the Layers list or on the canvas.

2. 2

   Add the mask

   Choose Layer › Layer mask › Reveal all (keeps everything visible) or Hide all (hides everything so you paint it back in). The add-mask button in the Layers footer does the same and reveals the current selection if there is one.

3. 3

   Turn on mask painting

   Tick Layer › Layer mask › Paint on mask. The Brush now paints on the mask instead of on a paint layer.

4. 4

   Paint with black and white

   Press D for default colours and X to swap them. Paint black to hide and white to reveal. Use a soft brush preset such as Soft round and a low Opacity for smooth transitions.

5. 5

   Refine or reset

   Use Invert mask to flip what is shown, Disable mask to compare quickly, or Delete mask to remove it entirely.

Put a photo inside a shape with a clipping mask

A clipping mask makes the upper layer visible only where the layer directly beneath it has pixels. It is the quickest way to put a photo inside a circle, a rounded frame or a text block.

1. 1

   Draw the shape

   Add a shape with New ellipse or New rectangle and size it where the photo should appear.

2. 2

   Place the photo above it

   Add the photo and make sure it sits directly above the shape in the Layers list.

3. 3

   Clip it

   With the photo selected choose Layer › Clip to layer below (Ctrl+Alt+G), or right-click › Clip to Layer Below.

4. 4

   Reposition inside the shape

   Move or scale the photo; it stays inside the shape. Use Release clipping mask to undo the clip.

Change colour non-destructively with adjustment layers

Layer › New adjustment layer adds a layer that adjusts the composite of everything beneath it, using the same controls as the Adjust tab (Light, Colour, Curves, Levels, HSL / Colour, Color Balance and more). Add a layer mask to the adjustment layer to limit it to one area, for example to warm only the left page. For a change to a single photo, adjust that photo directly in the Adjust tab instead.

Blend modes and opacity

The blend-mode dropdown in the Layers panel controls how a layer combines with those below it. Multiply darkens and is useful for textures on light paper, Screen lightens, and Overlay or Soft Light add contrast to a texture or a second exposure. Lower Opacity when a blend is too strong. For a full walkthrough of blended photos see creating a double exposure album design.