: Photoshop CS5, how to create a layer mask from a layer? I have a layer in Photoshop that I'd like to use as a layer mask, is this at all possible? It's a black & white layer with some

@Jamie315

There is another easier (imo) way to do this. Create a new layer mask for the layer you wish to apply the mask to. Click on the mask in the layer panel, then go to image > apply image.

This allows you many options, including adding layers from any open document, controlling opacity, blending modes, channels, etc.

In this case, if you already have your black and white layer ready, just select the layer name from the drop-down, hit OK, and it's done.

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@Lengel450

For future reference – everything that they said above is correct, but if you have transparency, you need to tell it to paste in the specific location on the canvas that you copied from. You do that with "paste in place": Edit > Paste Special > Paste in Place, or just Shift-Cmd-V/Shift-Ctrl-V.

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@Reiling762

Layer masks are located under the channels tab.


Copy the contents of your layer by selecting it then pressing Ctrl+A to select all followed by Ctrl+C to copy.
Select the layer that you want to mask and create a new mask by clicking the "add layer mask" icon at the bottom of the layers panel.
Go to channels tab (at the top of the layers panel), and select the mask channel, it should be named <layername> Mask. Make sure the contents of the mask are selected (Ctrl+A), and paste the contents of the original layer into the mask channel Ctrl+V)

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