ON1 Tutorial - How To Toggle The Masking Brush Mode
For many years, the ‘x’ key toggled the ON1 brush between Paint Out and Paint In mode. This changed in Photo RAW 2018.5 to Shift-x. And there’s a reason for the change - consistency across modules. Watch this video for the backstory, and something to watch out for while you’re retraining your muscle memory for Shift-x.
Subscribe to my newsletter and SAVE 20% on your ON1 purchase. The subscribe button is at the bottom of this page.
PHOTO GEAR I USE
- Sony A7Rii
- Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS
- Sony FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS
- Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS
- Really Right Stuff Tripod
- Formatt-Hitech Filters
- MindShift Camera Bags
The entire list is in The Gear Box.
The ON1 Masking Panel generates more questions than almost any other feature in Photo RAW. Here's the funny thing: most photographers don't actually need to use it.
A subtle color shift can completely change the mood of a landscape photo. In this new ON1 Effects tutorial, I build a cool-toned Winter Chill look that better matches the cold, misty feeling of the scene.
Fog is easy to add—but making it look natural takes more control than a single filter. Use Depth Mask in ON1 Effects to shape atmosphere with distance and bring realism back into the scene.
Want to edit foreground and background separately without brushing? In this video, I show how ON1’s Depth Mask lets you apply contrast up close and glow in the distance using a single slider—perfect for deep scenes like slot canyons.
Selective detail can make or break a black and white photograph. In this video, I show how to focus attention where it matters most while keeping the rest of the image soft and cohesive.
This image is packed with beautiful detail—but it needs a thoughtful touch to shine. I’ll show how Dynamic Contrast and Tone Enhancer in ON1 bring out texture and structure without pushing the photo too far.
Learn how to brighten highlights in reflections without affecting the shadows or midtones. In this tutorial, I walk through a precise masking approach using a luminosity mask and a brush tool to keep the adjustment clean and natural.
The new Depth Lighting filter in ON1 Photo RAW 2026 lets you shape light with incredible realism — no manual masking required.
The new Intersect mode in ON1 Photo RAW 2026 makes it simple to craft precise, detailed masks in seconds. Learn how to combine multiple selections to isolate exactly where your adjustments apply — with total control and minimal effort.
Scott Davenport
Scott Davenport is a landscape photographer and photo educator and based in San Diego, California. He leads photo workshops, writes photo books, hosts podcasts, makes tutorial videos, and feels weird referring to himself in the 3rd person.
He also can't help getting his feet wet photographing at the beach.
What if your mask selects the right subject, but you don’t want the adjustment applied evenly across all of it?
In this tutorial, I combine an AI mask with a gradient using Intersect mode in ON1 Photo RAW. The result keeps the adjustment confined to the mountains while letting its strength fade naturally across the scene.