HOW TO Use live masks to edit layers non-destructively

1 Summon Unsharp Mask

Click in a black area in the Layers panel to make sure that the image layer is not selected. Choose Layer > New Live Filter Layer > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask. The Unsharp Mask filter will float above the image layer.

2 Sharpen the shot

In the Live Unsharp Mask box set Radius to 1. This spreads the increase in edge contrast by 1 pixel. Boost Factor to 4 for a higher contrast change. This adds impact to eyes but also emphasises wrinkles and pores.

3 Add Band-pass mask

Click on the Unsharp Mask layer in the Layers panel. Choose Layer > New Live Mask Layer > Band-pass. Click the Unsharp Mask layer’s dropdown icon to toggle open the attached Live Band-pass Mask.

4 View the mask

In the Live Band-pass Mask window, tick Preview. The black areas here stop the attached Unsharp Mask from exaggerating fine details such as pores. The white areas allow key features such as eyes to be sharpened.

5 Adjust the mask

Drag the Low Band slider left to 0. Drag the High Band slider right to 50. This increases the contrast of the mask, allowing the Unsharp Mask to sharpen the brighter areas while stopping it from sharpening skin pores.

6 Increase intensity

The Intensity Map has a control point at the top right. Drag the control point left to increase the brightness of the white areas. This increased contrast allows more sharpening in the whiter sections of the mask.

7 Edit the mask

Untick Preview to see the image. Choose the Brush tool. Click on the Live Band-pass Mask layer. Spray a black brush over any wrinkles, lines and pores to manually mask the effect of the attached Unsharp Mask filter.

8 High contrast scenes

Here a Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer brightens up underexposed shadows. However, the sky has become overexposed. We need to make selective adjustments with the new Live Luminosity Range Mask.

9 Edit Luminosity Range

Click on the Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer. Choose Layer > New Live Mask Layer > Luminosity Range. Drag the curve downwards to restrict the brightness adjustments to the darker parts of the shot.