Groups and nesting
Organise a complex composite into folders, reorder layers, and keep group opacity and blend behaviour predictable.
Editing · LayersLocal-first
Layers, Masks & Composites
A non-destructive layer stack with groups, blend modes, adjustment layers, masks and layer comps.
Every serious retouch is a stack of small decisions. photos-assemb gives you the same vocabulary as a desktop editor: groups, blend modes, opacity, masks, adjustment layers, layer styles and layer comps that remember position as well as visibility.
Masks are real pixel buffers, not a slider pretending to be one. Paint black to hide, white to reveal, feather the edge, or generate a mask from a selection. Adjustment layers are masked the same way, so a curve can affect only the sky.
No image uploads WebAssembly engine Works in the tab
What you can do
Layers & masks, in detail.
Edit with a real layer stack: groups, 30 blend modes, pixel and adjustment-layer masks, layer styles, positional layer comps and pixel-accurate undo in the browser.
Pixel masks
Add a mask to any raster layer, paint on it with the brush or gradient, then feather, densify or link it to the layer transform.
Adjustment layers
Brightness/Contrast, Levels, Curves, Exposure, Vibrance, Hue/Saturation, Colour Balance, Black & White, Photo Filter, Gradient Map and more stay editable.
Layer styles
Drop and inner shadow, outer and inner glow, stroke, colour/gradient overlay and bevel are non-destructive and export to PSD.
Layer comps
Capture a version of the stack — including layer position — and switch between looks without rebuilding the file.
History that goes back
Every brush stroke, filter, mask edit and structural change is undoable. Jump directly to an earlier state from the History panel.
How it works
From file to finish in three moves.
No install step and no import queue. Open the editor, work on the document locally, and export the file your next tool expects.
Try it now- 1
Build the stack
Import a photo or PSD, then add adjustment layers, retouch layers and groups above the base image.
- 2
Mask the effect
Paint a mask or turn a selection into one. Adjustment layers use the same mask model, so local grades stay editable.
- 3
Save the look
Capture a layer comp, compare versions, and export a layered PSD or flattened delivery file.
Who it is for
Built for real photo work.
These are the workflows the tool is designed around — not a list of theoretical features.
- Landscape composites that need separate grades for sky, foreground and subject.
- Portrait retouching with frequency-separation-style layers and masked skin work.
- Product photography with repeated background and shadow treatments.
- Design mockups where several layer comps represent different client options.
Questions
Layers & masks FAQ
Straight answers about formats, privacy and limits.
Are masks destructive?
No. Masks are separate coverage buffers attached to the layer. You can paint, feather, reset or delete a mask without flattening the layer pixels.
Can adjustment layers have masks?
Yes. An adjustment layer affects everything below it, and its mask limits that effect to the painted area.
What is a layer comp?
A saved combination of layer visibility, opacity, blend mode, styles and position. It lets you switch between alternative looks without duplicating the document.
How deep is the undo history?
History is configurable by entry count and memory budget, with an unlimited option. Large documents can still hit browser memory limits.
Put layers & masks to work.
Open the editor and bring a real file. Your photo stays on your device.