Digital Imaging
Unit 8: Enhancing Specific Selections & Adjusting Colors
Module 2: Creating and Saving Alpha Channels
Alpha Channels
Alpha channels are the areas of an
image where masks are stored.
(You may recall a mask is an area
of the image that is protected
from editing).

Digital Imaging
Unit 8: Enhancing Specific Selections & Adjusting Colors
Module 2: Creating and Saving Alpha Channels
Alpha Channels
To create an alpha channel:
• Click the New Channel
button at the bottom of the
Channels panel.
• Using the paintbrush tool,
paint on the new channel to
mask out image areas.

Digital Imaging
Unit 8: Enhancing Specific Selections & Adjusting Colors
Module 2: Creating and Saving Alpha Channels
Alpha Channels
To edit an alpha channel:
• Use the paintbrush tool to add
or delete areas on the mask.
• Painting with black increases
the masked area.
• Painting with white increases
the selected area.