Non destructive Mask leveling

[Bob Peterson]

If you want to do non destructive adjustments, do NOT use the image adjustment options. Instead, use Layer -> New Adjustment Layer. You can also add adjustment layers if the Layers window is visible. It has a circle icon that is half white and half black. Click on that icon to see a list of adjustment layers, and click on the one you want.

Adjustment layers are non destructive, and they have masks.

[Ted Harisson]

I need those adjustment layers applied to my mask, not to the image.
A mask applied to an adjustment layer would only determine the affected areas of the adjustment layer, rather than affect the mask itself.

[Keith Carmichael]

I see your problem, Ted.

I think the idea is that the new masks panel allows enough non-destructive editing for masks, since you can non-destructively feather and use all those “refine edge” sliders. So you might want to start playing with those. CS4 has them, I THINK CS3 does too?

The only other thing I can suggest is copying your original mask so you can go back to it if you like…

[Ted Harisson]

Thanks Emily,
I thought Photoshop should have enough support for mask layers as much as it has for the regular layers. After all, they are greyscale images, and can be filtered just like any other image. I figured there might be a non destructive approach to that.
Thanks for your help, I’ll look into the refine edge thing as you suggested 🙂