Mask Smart Filter effects

Last updated on Oct 9, 2026

Learn how to paint with black, white, or gray to selectively hide or reveal filter effects applied to Smart Objects in Adobe Photoshop on desktop.

Filter masks give precise control over where Smart Filter effects appear in your image, enabling selective adjustments without permanently altering your original content.

When you apply a Smart Filter to a Smart Object, Photoshop automatically creates a filter mask thumbnail on the Smart Filters line in the Layers panel. This mask controls the visibility of all Smart Filters applied to that Smart Object. You cannot mask individual Smart Filters separately. Filter masks use the same principles as layer masks: white areas reveal filter effects, black areas hide them, and gray areas create partial transparency for smooth blending.

Filter masks work seamlessly with standard painting and editing tools, letting you refine filter effects with the same precision you use for other masking tasks. You can adjust mask density and feathering through the Properties panel, and filter masks are stored as alpha channels in the Channels panel for advanced selection workflows.

Paint a filter mask to hide or reveal effects

Select the filter mask thumbnail in the Layers panel beneath your Smart Object layer to make it active.

Select the Brush tool or any painting tool.

Paint with black on the mask to hide filter effects in those areas, with white to reveal filter effects, and with shades of gray to create partial transparency—darker grays hide more of the effect, lighter grays reveal more.

You can also apply image adjustments and filters directly to filter masks for creative masking effects.

Adjust filter mask density and feathering

Select the filter mask thumbnail in the Layers panel or the Smart Object layer and then select the Filter Mask option in the Properties panel.

In the Properties panel, drag the Density slider to adjust mask opacity and the Feathering slider to soften the edges of your mask for smoother transitions.

The Mask Edge option (Select and Mask workspace) is not available for filter masks. Use feathering and density controls instead.

Invert, view, or reposition filter masks

Select the filter mask thumbnail in the Layers panel to make it active.

To invert the mask, select Invert in the Properties panel, or choose Image > Adjustments > Invert.

To view only the mask in grayscale, press Alt-select (Windows) or Option-select (macOS) the filter mask thumbnail. Repeat to return to normal view.

To move the mask to a different Smart Filter effect on the same Smart Object, drag the filter mask thumbnail to the target Smart Filter line.

To copy the mask, press Alt-drag (Windows) or Option-drag (macOS) the filter mask thumbnail to another Smart Filter line.

Disable, enable, or delete a filter mask

Select the filter mask thumbnail in the Layers panel.

To disable the mask temporarily, press Shift-select the filter mask thumbnail or select the Disable/Enable Mask button in the Properties panel or Layer > Smart Filters > Disable Filter Mask. A red X appears over the thumbnail when disabled.

To re-enable a disabled mask, press Shift-select the filter mask thumbnail again or use the Properties panel toggle.

To delete the mask permanently, drag the filter mask thumbnail to the Delete icon in the Layers panel, or select it and then select the Delete icon in the Properties panel. You can also select Layer > Smart Filters > Delete Filter Mask.

Add a new filter mask

If you've deleted a filter mask or need to create one manually, you can add a mask at any time.

Select the Smart Object layer that contains Smart Filters.

To add an empty white mask that reveals all effects, select the Filter Mask option in the Properties panel.

To add a mask based on a selection, create your selection first, then select (Windows) or Control-select (macOS) the Smart Filters line in the Layers panel and choose Add Filter Mask.

After adding a new mask, you can paint, adjust, or modify it using any of the techniques described here.

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