Creating alpha channels (Photoshop)


    You can create a new alpha channel and then use painting tools, editing tools, and filters to add the mask to it.

To create an alpha channel using current options:

  1. Click the New Channel button New button at the bottom of the Channels palette. The new channel is named according to the sequence in which it was created.
  2. Use a painting or editing tool to paint in the image. Paint with black to add to the channel; paint with white to remove from the channel; paint with a lower opacity or a color to add to the channel with lower opacities.

To create an alpha channel and specify options:

  1. Do one of the following:
    • Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Mac OS) the New Channel button New button at the bottom of the palette.
    • Choose New Channel from the Channels palette menu.
  2. Type a name for the channel.
  3. Select display options for the channel, as described in steps 2 through 4 of the procedure for changing Quick Mask options in Using Quick Mask mode to make selections (Photoshop). Alpha channel options are identical to Quick Mask options.
  4. Click OK. A new channel appears at the bottom of the Channels palette and is the only channel visible in the image window.
  5. Click the eye icon Eye icon next to a color channel or the composite color channel to display the image with a color overlay.
  6. Use a painting or editing tool to paint in the image. Paint with black to add to the new channel, paint with white to remove from the new channel, or paint with a lower opacity or a color to add to the new channel with lower opacities.