Masking in Procreate for Beginners (+ free cheat sheet!)

[@CursiveWriter]

Madam I need a video on how to make cursive worksheets using our own handwritten letters in illustrator... Please help me on uploading a video on it...

[@doodlingdebbie1]

Tesla, you explained masking better than anyone has ever explained it. Thank you! Everything is so much clearer in my mind. ❤❤❤

[@EveryTuesday]

Yay, I'm so glad! Thanks for watching! 💕

[@ToLoveTruth]

Excellent video thanks! I find the ‘select’ function super handy for non destructive layer work too. For example, ‘select’ your heart layer and then create a new blank layer above it…any lines, shapes, fills, shading or textures you add to your new blank layer above will be constrained to the heart shape you’ve ‘selected’. 😊

[@Jbryd1260]

I tried this! What a game changer! 💜

[@EveryTuesday]

Thanks for watching! While what you described is def helpful, it limits you to the bounds of the selection whereas clipping and layer masks don't, so I'd always go with a clipping/layer mask before a selection because of that 👍

[@ToLoveTruth]

@@EveryTuesday I find your response rather odd. Here’s why…it’s precisely because I want to constrain my art to a particular shape on a particular layer, without modifying or altering that original layer (what you refer to as limiting one to the bounds of the selection…and pretty much the same outcome as a clipping mask), that I find the ‘select’ option so useful. I find myself using the select function a great deal. If you’re more comfortable using clipping masks, then more power to you. I believe there’s certainly room for each of us to embrace a broad range of tools, functions and approaches and to develop our own personal preferences. I would even go so far as to suggest there’s a place in each of our Procreate repertoires for alpha lock too…that’s certainly my opinion having used the Procreate app for six years now. But oh well…each to his own, I guess.

[@EveryTuesday]

@@ToLoveTruth I truly meant no offense by my reply, just trying to be helpful! I like using and recommending options that give users the most flexibility and in this scenario, using a clipping mask allows a user the opportunity to have different bounds if they ever change their mind about the shape later on in their creative process. It’s less limiting in that respect, which is something that’s important to know. But of course, you’re welcome to use whatever you’d like!

[@marciaw4164]

You have performed a great service to the Procreate community, and we thank you for it! 😀

[@lpholah]

Excellent lesson! You explain things so well. Thanks Teela for your generosity! ❤

[@ingridmonsalve9938]

Realmente necesitaba este video!!! 🎉🎉🎉

[@Jbryd1260]

Thank you for this video! I love clipping masks and mask layers they are so fun!

Thank you, Teela! It helps to know when you want to use a mask. The cheat sheet is invaluable because I can’t always remember when I need it!

[@vespa4jen]

Teela!!! This video is absolutely awesome. You have made this ‘masking’ business finally make sense. Thank you!😻

[@EveryTuesday]

Yay! Thanks for watching! 💕

[@silviahogan2679]

Thank you Teela this is so helpful, now I’ve seen the roses I’m going to need those brushes!!

[@marysherwood3189]

This really helped me see the benefit of masking. Thanks!

[@geekyace]

Straight to the point explanation and good basic examples I really liked it. Alpha lock has been a feature for a long time so I'm wondering what was the initial use case for it?

[@beckyericsen4229]

Thank you for this clear explanation!!!

[@bonniedennis7961]

Great video! So clear. Thanks for making it.

[@EveryTuesday]

Thanks for watching!

[@hildiew.1799]

This has always confused me but you did a wonderful job of explaining everything! Thanks so much!

[@charischarlton]

This really helped a lot, thankyou!

[@EveryTuesday]

I'm so glad! Thanks for watching!

[@mjsloan92]

I'm not in the market for creating digital products, right now, but I absolutely LOVED this style of video! ❤️ Also, great tips too!

[@janahoffman5291]

you are awesome! Thank you!

[@lilyimpala]

Hello Teela, when I started Procreate in 2020, for my first research, it was of course about masks, I had already seen one of your videos and it was so clear! As I can see, you are still the Queen of teaching Masks 💌 I must admit that I still use the alpha lock to redefine a pixel drawing that I want to enlarge a little. Do you recommend another way to proceed?

[@EveryTuesday]

Oh no, don't use alpha lock!! You should never enlarge anything that's pixel based because the resolution always degrades. It's always best to recreate rather than rescale (or better yet, create it larger than you think you'll need it when you start so you've always got that larger size!). Thanks so much for watching! 💕

[@lilyimpala]

@@EveryTuesday Thank you for your answer Teela. I am going to follow your advice (I always do. I thought I've seen this on a tutorial: duplicate an alpha lock layer and merge all the layers to fix some blurred edges).

[@krissybooth3839]

❤ Now I understand thank you so much xx

[@KariAndresen]

Love this video. I've been wondering if there's a way to "apply" a layer mask. Say you've made the layer mask on the heart and you've decided that you want to keep it & put that all on one layer now so you can continue to build an image. In Photoshop, you can Apply the layer mask, which basically merges them together & destructively erases the parts you've hidden with black. Do you know if there a way to do that in Procreate?

[@EveryTuesday]

Pinching your layer mask with the layer it's attached to will merge em together 👍