The Mask Control You’re Overlooking In ON1 Effects
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Every filter in ON1 Effects has an individual strength (opacity) control and mask. It’s the utmost in control for photographers. You have complete control over each and every filter you apply to your images.
ON1 Effects also has an opacity and mask for the entire filter stack. You might know about the global opacity control to fine tune the strength of a look. But what about the global mask for the filter stack? It has its place as well. And you might have overlooked it.
What Are The Global Filter Controls?
Right beneath the “Effects” label in the Effects tab is an Opacity control and a mask icon. These two controls impact the entire filter stack. The Opacity slider sets the overall strength of all the filters on your image. You likely know about this one. It is the same control as the Fade slider on a preset thumbnail.
The mask icon you might have overlooked (or maybe mis-clicked it and gotten very confused to what was happening!). This mask also applies to the entire filter stack. Instead of masking the individual filters, you can mask the entire set in a single place.
When Do I Use the Global Filter Mask?
In this example, I have used the global filter mask in ON1 Effects to reduce the impact of the filter stack on the lower part of the image. Notice the gradient mask in the mask swatch.
I use this mask control when a preset or look I’ve crafted for a photo need to be subdued or limited to some, but not all, areas of my photo. When the stack of filters needs to be applied more selectively throughout an image, use the global filter mask. All of the ON1 masking tools are available.
In this example, I used one of the Cold Mountain presets to deliver a wintery feel. At about 75% strength, the preset looked good on the trees and upper part of the photo…. but it dulled the river colors too much. At about 30%, the preset looked good on the river, but the trees weren’t cooled enough.
The answer? I set the global opacity to about 75%. Then, I used the global filter stack mask to mask away the look from the lower part of the photo. I applied a gradient mask at partial strength to reduce, but not fully remove, the impact of the preset.
Try It Yourself!
The next time you apply a preset or craft a look that’s good for some but not all of your photo, remember the global filter mask!
Virgin River, Winter
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