Copy a Layer Mask in Photoshop

By Linda Sattgast

All versions of Photoshop

• You must already have one layer mask created in order to copy it.
• Press Alt (Mac: Opt) and click and drag a copy of the original layer mask thumbnail in the Layers panel to the new layer.
• If you don’t use the Alt key (Mac: Opt key) Photoshop will simply move the mask to the new layer instead of copying it.)

Invert or Delete a Mask

• To invert a mask so that the white becomes black and the black becomes white, in the Menu Bar choose Image > Adjustments > Invert or use the shortcut, Ctrl I (Mac: Cmd I).
• To delete a mask, in the Layers panel right click on the mask thumbnail and choose Delete Layer Mask.