The Image Display

The Fluid Mask displays your image in one of three views (accessed by the tabs along the top of the image):

1. Source: The Source view shows the original image.
2. Workspace: The Workspace view is where you create the cut-out masks.
3. Cut-out: The Cut-out view shows the cut-out image composited against the chosen background color or a "transparent" diamond pattern. (The background is not included when the cut-out is saved.)

Note: The Cut-out view is only updated when you click the Create Cut-out button on the Tool Palette or use the Preview Cut-out tool. Fluid Mask does not automatically redo the cut-out when you change the masks.

View Options

Located below the image display, the following controls let you adjust the workspace display:

• Show Object Edges: shows the edges of the objects found in the image. These objects will be flood-filled when you use the local and global brushes. (The brushes work the same whether or not the edges are shown.)
• Mask Opacity: Sets the opacity of the mask overlay. Setting a lower opacity allows you to see more of the details in your image. Setting a high opacity can help you spot unmasked areas.
• Workspace Resolution: Sets the working resolution as a ratio to the image's actual resolution. For example, if you set the resolution to 1:1, Fluid Mask will show one pixel for every pixel in the image, but if you set a resolution of 1:2, Fluid Mask will show one pixel for every four image pixels. Choosing a lower working resolution can speed up many Fluid Mask operations, at a small cost to the accuracy of object finding. Unless your cut-out has very detailed, complex edges, this is often a worthwhile trade-off. When you save the final cut-out, the finished image always retains the resolution of the original image, no matter what working resolution you choose.