Tips for using alpha channels (Photoshop)


    An alpha channel has these properties:

    • Each image can contain up to 56 channels, including all color and alpha channels.
    • You can specify a name, color, mask option, and opacity for each channel. (The opacity affects the preview of the channel, not the image.)
    • All new channels have the same dimensions and number of pixels as the original image.
    • You can edit the mask in an alpha channel using painting tools, editing tools, and filters.
    Original mask (left), and after a filter was applied (right)
    Original mask (left), and after a filter was applied (right)
    • You can convert alpha channels to spot color channels.