![](https://spsphoto.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ten-of-my-favorite-lightroom-masking-shortcuts.jpg)
Here they are – my top 10 favorite Masking shortcuts (in no particular order):
![](https://spsphoto.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ten-of-my-favorite-lightroom-masking-shortcuts-1.jpg)
Shift + O toggles you through the different Mask colors (you’re not stuck with just that red tint overlay).
![](https://spsphoto.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ten-of-my-favorite-lightroom-masking-shortcuts-2.jpg)
When you’re using the Masking Brush the [ and ] bracket keys (to the right of the letter P) let you change brush sizes. Hitting the left bracket key makes the brush smaller – the right one makes it larger.
![](https://spsphoto.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ten-of-my-favorite-lightroom-masking-shortcuts-3.jpg)
Press the letter O on your keyboard to hide the red overlay tint on your masked area (as shown below) .
![](https://spsphoto.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ten-of-my-favorite-lightroom-masking-shortcuts-4.jpg)
![](https://spsphoto.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ten-of-my-favorite-lightroom-masking-shortcuts-5.jpg)
Pressing the letter ‘n’ creates a New Mask using the same masking tool you used last, so if you were just using the Linear Gradient Mask tool, it creates a new mask and you can just start dragging to make another Linear Gradient without a trip to the Mask tools menu.
![](https://spsphoto.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ten-of-my-favorite-lightroom-masking-shortcuts-6.jpg)
You can press Shift-W to open or hide the Masks panels.
![](https://spsphoto.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ten-of-my-favorite-lightroom-masking-shortcuts-7.jpg)
Press the letter “h” on your keyboard to hide the Mask pins on your image from view.
![](https://spsphoto.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ten-of-my-favorite-lightroom-masking-shortcuts-8.jpg)
To give your mask a Mask, in the Masks panel right-click on (or Ctrl-click on Mac) on any Mask and from the pop-up menu that appears, chose ‘Rename‘ (as shown below).
![](https://spsphoto.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ten-of-my-favorite-lightroom-masking-shortcuts-9.jpg)
![](https://spsphoto.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ten-of-my-favorite-lightroom-masking-shortcuts-10.jpg)
Press the [ ‘ ] apostrophe key to invert your mask.
![](https://spsphoto.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ten-of-my-favorite-lightroom-masking-shortcuts-11.jpg)
Press ‘m’ to get one of my most-used masking tools: the Linear Gradient (probably my #1 most-used is the Brush).
![](https://spsphoto.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ten-of-my-favorite-lightroom-masking-shortcuts-12.jpg)
Switch the Brush tool to the ‘Eraser’ Brush – hold the Option key (Mac) or Alt key (PC).
There ya have it. Hope you found those helpful.
The Worldwide Photo Walk is Almost Here
![](https://spsphoto.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ten-of-my-favorite-lightroom-masking-shortcuts-13.jpg)
Saturday, October 7, 2023 all around the world – it’s free, it’s fun, and it’s all a great cause (to support the Springs of Hope Orphanage in Nakuru, Kenya. Sign up for a photo walk near you at worldwidephotowalk.com – see you there!
Have a great weekend everybody! #RollTide and GoBucs!
-Scott
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