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# Channels

A channel is a raster image, containing one value per each pixel. A single channel is often rendered as a grayscale image (small values as blacks, large values as whites).

A color image consists of four channels: values of Red, of Green and of Blue and transparency values. A raster mask can also be viewed as a channel. In addition, Photopea lets you create your own, independent channels.

## Channels Window

You can work with channels in the Channels window (press Window - Channels). The list contains the Red, Green and Blue channels of the image, masks of a current layer, and independent channels.

You can hide or unhide each channel with the eye icon. When only one channel is enabled, it is rendered as a grayscale image. When multiple channels are enabled, non-RGB channels are rendered as a "red mask" (black as red, white as transparent) over the RGB image.

A useful feature in the Layers panel:

- Alt+click a layer mask to enable it and turn off other channels ("grayscale view")
- Alt+Shift+click a layer mask to enable it together with other channels ("red mask view")

The Quick Mask Mode simply turns a selection into an independent channel, that is enabled toghether with color channels.

## Working with channels

Click any channel to select it. All editing (e.g. painting, adjustments, filters ...) will be applied only to that channel (e.g. a blue channel of a current layer, a raster mask, or an independent channel).

Icons at the bottom allow you to turn a current channel into a selection, create an independent channel from a current selection. You can also create an empty channel (all black), or delete a current channel. You can double-click the name of an independent channel to rename it.

Do you need help? Ask us at our Reddit!