# Layer mask for color and transparency **URL:** \ **Category:** Features\ **Created:** [August 9, 2017, 1:15pm UTC](https://community.aseprite.org/t/layer-mask-for-color-and-transparency/311 "2017-08-09T13:15:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dexxter24](https://community.aseprite.org/user_avatar/community.aseprite.org/dexxter24/32/208_2.png) [@dexxter24](https://community.aseprite.org/u/dexxter24)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2017, 1:15pm UTC](https://community.aseprite.org/t/layer-mask-for-color-and-transparency/311/1 "2017-08-09T13:15:32Z")
Hi I didn’t find anything about this anywhere but what feature I really miss is: Layer mask. I don’t exactly mean milions of masks for everything like in Photoshop but simple transparency/color mask would be great enough. I know that things can be done even without it now but sometimes to set up simple masks for all animation and then just soft brushing them when needed (or even much better - gradient them with the new tool!) with simple black/white color would be such useful feature. And once the layer mask is set it can be copied to another layer and made immediate drastic changes over all animation and so on. The possibilities are endless. What do you think? ---
**Author:** ![dacap](https://community.aseprite.org/user_avatar/community.aseprite.org/dacap/32/10_2.png) [@dacap](https://community.aseprite.org/u/dacap)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 11:43am UTC](https://community.aseprite.org/t/layer-mask-for-color-and-transparency/311/2 "2017-08-10T11:43:23Z")
Hi @dexxter24, some months ago the same feature was requested [here](https://github.com/aseprite/aseprite/issues/459). I would love to see mask layers, but it’s a little far away from the roadmap yet. ---
**Author:** ![Sacb0y](https://community.aseprite.org/user_avatar/community.aseprite.org/sacb0y/32/1026_2.png) [@Sacb0y](https://community.aseprite.org/u/Sacb0y)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 2:20am UTC](https://community.aseprite.org/t/layer-mask-for-color-and-transparency/311/3 "2018-06-27T02:20:12Z")
Bro please add this feature, working with silhouettes would be MUCH easier. I would also accept an transparency lock. like i can draw a silhouette, lock the transparency of the layer, then draw inside the silhouette. This would be just as good for me. ---
**Author:** ![Juan\_Lr](https://community.aseprite.org/user_avatar/community.aseprite.org/juan_lr/32/5524_2.png) [@Juan\_Lr](https://community.aseprite.org/u/Juan_Lr)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2020, 12:03pm UTC](https://community.aseprite.org/t/layer-mask-for-color-and-transparency/311/4 "2020-10-20T12:03:59Z")
You could use Onion skin for that! Create a new frame from your silhouette, turn onion skin on and delete the new frame contempt, this could help you a little maybe 😄 ---
**Author:** ![JamesTDG](https://community.aseprite.org/letter_avatar/jamestdg/32/6_22734026db12803ebb3e059622ac3534.png) [@JamesTDG](https://community.aseprite.org/u/JamesTDG)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2026, 2:27am UTC](https://community.aseprite.org/t/layer-mask-for-color-and-transparency/311/5 "2026-08-19T02:27:58Z")
Gotta necro this thread just to refresh the interest for this feature. I’ve been wanting to try various dissolve effects taking advantage of the dither tool to design my mask layers, without much luck. Would appreciate it if this could be brought into a future update in the near future ---
**Author:** ![Izzy\_Boy](https://community.aseprite.org/user_avatar/community.aseprite.org/izzy_boy/32/21462_2.png) [@Izzy\_Boy](https://community.aseprite.org/u/Izzy_Boy)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2026, 9:27am UTC](https://community.aseprite.org/t/layer-mask-for-color-and-transparency/311/6 "2026-08-19T09:27:12Z")
needed a pixel artist anyone