LHTSOFT Photo · BETA · Product guide
Layer masks in LHTSOFT Photo — practical compositing guide
Learn to combine image layers, use masks, manage opacity and blending, and avoid destructive edits in the local-first Photo editor.
A layer stack lets you change parts of an image independently. A raster mask is a reversible way to hide pixels on a layer without erasing their original color information. Together, these two ideas make common compositing tasks far easier to revise.
Build a useful layer stack
Layer order matters: a fully opaque upper layer can obscure everything beneath it. Before assuming a tool failed, verify that its layer is visible, unlocked and above the intended content.
- Open the image that will form your background. Duplicate it before heavy retouching so you can compare before and after.
- Import a second image or create a text/shape layer above the background. Select the exact layer before applying a tool.
- Rename important layers by purpose—for example, Background, Product cutout, Shadow and Title. Use layer visibility to inspect each contribution.
Hide pixels with masks instead of deleting
A mask only changes how pixels are shown; it should not be mistaken for deleting confidential content from an image. Flattened exports still reveal any pixels you intentionally leave visible.
- Make a rectangle, ellipse, lasso or another supported selection around the area you want to change.
- On a selected raster layer, use the mask operation to hide selected pixels non-destructively; verify the correct selected region before applying.
- Toggle the layer or mask to check the edge. Feather hard edges when appropriate, particularly for blurred shadows or soft subjects.
Blending, opacity and adjustment layers
Blend modes change how a layer interacts with layers underneath. Normal is predictable; Multiply darkens, Screen lightens and Overlay increases contrast, but each changes colors differently on a transparent backdrop.
Opacity affects the entire selected layer. If only a portion should become transparent, refine the mask rather than lowering whole-layer opacity. Adjustment layers are preferred for reversible color corrections across a set of layers.
Save without flattening your source
Keep an editable .lhtp file for future work and export a separate PNG/JPG/WebP for sharing. PSD output is limited to supported raster information and can flatten effects or adjustment layers; inspect its compatibility warning before relying on it.
When re-opening a project, verify layer positions, masks and fonts. Imported PSD documents can contain unsupported features that were not represented exactly in the browser.