masksoften

Masksoften is a term used in digital imaging to describe a method of softening the edge of a mask used in compositing, matte creation, and image editing. The goal is to produce a gradual transition between the masked and unmasked areas, reducing hard edge artifacts that can reveal the mask boundary.

The technique typically applies a blur or gradient to the mask itself, spreading the transition over several pixels. Common controls include a radius or distance parameter that sets how far the softness extends, and sometimes a falloff profile that determines how quickly the transition fades. Some implementations employ distance transforms or gradient masks to achieve more controlled feathering. Masksoften is often contrasted with sharp masking, where the boundary remains abrupt.

In practice, masksoften is used to blend layers more naturally in visual effects, photography retouching, and scene compositing. It helps achieve realistic edges around selections, mattes, or roto shapes, and can be combined with color correction or edge refinement to preserve detail inside the masked region while softening the boundary.

Software documentation may label this function as feathering, soft mask, or edge soften, with varying emphasis on whether the softness is applied to the mask itself or to the resulting composite. Limitations include potential halos or loss of precision at edges if the radius is too large, and increased blur can affect fine detail at the boundary. See also feathering, matte creation, and edge refinement.