Channel Basics 2

Storing a Selection Mask as an Alpha Channel

When you make a selection mask in Photoshop, the mask is an 8-bit grayscale image. When you save a selection in the file, Photoshop has to put it somewhere, so it is stored as a channel.

channelsalpha.gif

You can try this yourself. First you need to make a selection with one or more selection tools.

4. In this example we'll use the Magic Wand Tool magicwand.gif and select the white background pixels. The "Anti-aliased" checkbox was checked in the Options palette. The selection marquee appears as a row of "marching ants".

channels01rgb.gif
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5. Now click Select > Save Selection and click OK in the dialog to save it. Photoshop will save the selection as a new channel by default.

channels06.gif

6. Now the Channels palette shows the new channel. Photoshop assigns the default name of "Alpha 1" to the new channel.

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7. Click the "Alpha 1" channel in the Channels palette.

channels08.gif

8. Now the document window will display the channel by itself.

channels09.gif

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