Modifying alpha channels (Photoshop)

You can edit an alpha channel to add or remove color in it, and you can specify settings for the masking colors and opacity.

See Managing channels (Photoshop) for information on rearranging, duplicating, or deleting alpha channels.

To edit an alpha channel:

Use a painting or editing tool to paint in the image. Paint with black to add to the channel, paint with white to remove from the channel, or paint with a lower opacity or a color to add to the channel with lower opacities.

To change an alpha channel's options:

1. Do one of the following:
• Select the channel in the Channels palette, and choose Channel Options from the palette menu.
• Double-click the channel thumbnail in the Channels palette.
2. Enter a new name for the channel.
3. Choose display options, as described in steps 2 through 4 of the procedure on Quick Mask options in Creating temporary masks in Quick Mask mode (Photoshop).

See Modifying spot channels for information on changing Spot Color channel options.

Note: You cannot modify options for the default color channels.