# Creating a Layer Mask

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If you’d like to use a mask on a layer, the first step is to add one. This approach is most useful when you want to mask parts of an image layer globally or blend several filters at once. This mask can be edited using the Brush, Linear Gradient, Radial Gradient, or MaskAI tools.

To add a mask:

1. Open a photo in Luminar Neo.
2. Select the desired layer. By default, layers have no mask.
3. Click the Masking tab in the Layers Properties panel.
4. Choose one of the four mask types
   * Brush
   * Linear Gradient
   * Radial Gradient
   * MaskAI

These tools offer several controls, we’ll explore them next.


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