What is masking in design?

In design, masking is a technique used to control the visibility of parts of an image or graphic. Instead of permanently deleting sections, masking allows you to hide or reveal specific areas without altering the original content. It’s a non-destructive method, meaning you can edit or reverse the effect at any time.

There are different types of masking depending on the software:

• Layer Masking (used in Photoshop): Lets you use grayscale values (black hides, white reveals) to control visibility.

• Clipping Mask: Uses one layer to define the visible area of another layer, often used to fit images into shapes or text.

• Vector Masking: Uses vector paths for sharp, clean masking, ideal for graphics and logos.

Masking is widely used in photo editing, UI design, and digital illustration to create clean, professional, and flexible results.