Making semi-transparent selections with Alpha channels

Alpha channels work in exactly the same way as layer masks. The difference is that Channels can affect any layer, whereas masks only affect the layer that they are on. The purpose of this tutorial is to help you understand how Alpha channels work and to shed any remaining fear you may harbor towards channels. To follow along with this exercise, load up a document with 2 layers and a different picture on each layer

Step 1

Create a new Alpha channel

Choose the channels panel. Click the new channels button. It’s the second to the right, at the bottom of the channels palette. The alpha channel will now display, resulting in a black canvas. There is nothing currently selected so there is no white on the channel.

Step 2

Fill with a gradient

Choose the Gradient tool with white as the foreground and black as the background. Use the linear foreground to background option. Drag the gradient from left to right.  You should now see something like this.

Step 3

Load as a selection

Load the channel as a selection. Ctrl(Cmd) Click the Alpha 1 thumbnail. You will now see the marching ants. Notice that anything less than 50% selected will not show in the selection marching ants. Click the RGB thumbnail at the top of the Channels palette to display the composite. If you see a reddish tint, that’s because the alpha channels is also displayed. If this is the case, click the eye icon to the left of the Alpha 1 thumbnail to hide the channel and only display the selected composite.

Step 4

Delete selection

Choose the Layers palette. Choose the top layer and press the delete key (Or create a layer mask, this is the best way). You will now see the background image showing through. See how the semi transparent areas are displayed because those parts of the channel were gray. That’s the real point of this exercise, for you to see that.
Notice that the blue background is showing through on the woman’s face? Not too good looking is it? Ready for some advanced Channels work? Ok, press Ctrl-Z  to undo the deletion, We will fix it now. If there is a selection active press Ctrl-D to turn it off.

Step 5

Paint on the Channel

Open the channels palette. You are going to paint onto the channel to affect the selection. You know that black is unselected while white is selected. That’s means if you want to protect a part of the image you will need to make that portion black in the alpha channel. (Starting to understand yet? You will). Click on the eye icon to the left of the Alpha 1 channel (Or press the \ backslash key). You should now see a rubylith color  (or whatever color your mask is set to) where the gradient is created. Choose a soft brush and black as the color. Click on the Alpha 1 channel in the channels palette. It should now be the selected channel. Paint with the black brush in the area of the woman’s face. You are now fully excluding it from the selection. White is selected, black isn’t.The screen capture shows the channel displayed with the composite and displayed on its own. Click the eye icons to control the display.

Step 6

Load as selection

Make sure that only the RGB composite is showing by clicking the RGB thumbnail. If the alpha is showing click the eye icon to hide it. Ctrl-(Cmd) + Click on the alpha 1 thumbnail. You can load a selection off a channel even when it’s hidden! Useful to know

Step 7

 Delete selection

Choose the layers palette. Select the top layer and press the delete key. Notice that the area that you painted black is not deleted anymore? The face is no longer covered by the blue image.

See, just like a Quick mask or layer mask. Alpha Channels are not all that mystical after all.

Get in-the-know!

CS6 Superguide

Join our list to receive more tutorials and tips on Photoshop. Get exclusive tutorials, discounts and the free super guides. No spam, all content, no more than once a week.
If you’re on our list, you will receive it free by email as soon as it’s available. If not, sign up now and get the CS6 Superguide for free. Or click the image below.

2 responses to “Making semi-transparent selections with Alpha channels”

1. I’ve been using Photoshop for about 20 years. Each time I access one of your tutorials I get a “I never knew that” moment, thank you.

   Reply

   • Thanks 🙂

     Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.