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Intersect masks isn’t a hidden feature of Lightroom Classic, but many photographers ignore it because they don’t understand how to use it.
It’s time to change that. In this article I’m going to give you some practical examples of how to use intersect masks to improve your photos.
Each photo is also available on my Adobe Community profile, so you can try out the techniques yourself using the Remix tool. Note that you can intersect masks in Lightroom desktop, but not Lightroom mobile or Lightroom web, so Lightroom desktop is the app to use if you’d like to follow along.
Learn more: Adobe Community: Lightroom’s Best Hidden Secret?
What are intersecting masks in Lightroom?
Intersecting masks is a way of creating a new mask by overlapping two or more different masks.
This diagram shows how it works.
Intersect masks example 1: Select Sky and Linear Gradient
This first example shows how to use intersect masks to darken the sky naturally.
This is the photo we’re going to work with.
We can add drama by making the sky darker. One way to do this is to use a Select Sky mask. This is what the mask overlay looks like (with Overlay Mode in the Toolbar set to Color Overlay on B&W).
When you darken the sky by moving the Exposure slider left you get this result.
It’s dramatic, but is it natural? The problem is that it darkens the entire area in the Select Sky mask evenly. It would be better to graduate the effect.
You can do that by intersecting the Select Sky mask with a Linear Gradient.
To get there, click the ellipse (three dot) icon by the mask and go to Intersect Mask with > Linear Gradient.
Alternatively, hold the Option (Mac) | Alt (PC) key down. The Add and Subtract buttons change to a single Intersect button.
Click and drag to place the Linear Gradient over the sky.
Use the Mask Overlay (press the O key to toggle it on and off) to see the new mask (shown in red).
This is the result. As you can see it’s a lot more natural.
Click here to view this photo on my Adobe Community profile. You can remix it in Lightroom desktop to experiment with the masks.
Why intersect masks?
Intersecting the two masks in this photo ensures that your Linear Gradient doesn’t affect the house (which it would if you used a Linear Gradient alone to darken the sky).
You can create a separate mask for the house and adjust the house and sky individually, without affecting the other part of the photo.
That’s the power of intersecting masks.
Intersect masks example 2: Select Subject and Linear Gradient
Here’s another example of using intersect masks to get a more realistic effect.
This is my starting point.
Before you start masking, think about what you want to achieve. In this case, I wanted to make the background darker to add drama and make the artist the focal point of the attention. I’d also like to make the right side of the artist brighter, to emphasize the idea that he’s being lit by the light from the flame.
These are the masks I used to achieve that.
1. A Linear Gradient mask over the bright, out of focus area on the left. This overlay shows the mask.
This screenshot shows the effect.
2. A Select Background mask to darken the background. This is the mask.
This is the effect.
3. A Select People mask to add Clarity to the artist and bring out the textures. I also moved the Exposure slider left to make the artist darker in preparation for the next step (it will make sense when I show you). This is the mask.
This is the effect.
4. A Select People mask intersected with a Linear Gradient to make the right side of the artist brighter. This is the mask.
This is the effect.
Click here to view the photo and make your own Remix on Adobe Community.
The power of masks
Hopefully these two examples inspire you to try out these techniques on your own photos.
You can also use them on older photos. I originally developed the second photo in this article over ten years ago. There were no AI masks back then. I had to use the Brush and the selections weren’t as good. Using the newest tools helped me to get a better result.
Don’t be afraid to go back over some of your favorite photos and see if you can get a better result with the newest tools.
Mastering Masks
Lightroom’s masking tools have changed the way photographers develop photos forever. My newest ebook, Mastering Masks, teaches you how to create stunning photos using masks and local adjustments. It covers all the latest tools and techniques covered, plus there are fourteen Case Studies for you to follow along with.
Click here to learn more or buy
