Which statement best describes non-destructive masking with layers?

• A. A Layer Mask hides parts of a layer without deleting pixels.
• B. Eraser Tool non-destructively hides parts of a layer.
• C. Converting to Smart Object erases pixels.
• D. Clipping masks permanently separate layer content.

Answer: (D)

Non-destructive masking relies on a layer mask to control visibility while leaving all pixels intact. A layer mask stores transparency information as grayscale: painting in black hides parts of the layer, painting in white reveals them, and gray tones provide partial transparency. Because no pixels are deleted, you can always edit or remove the mask later to restore the original content or refine the effect. This is the essence of non-destructive masking with layers.

The other ideas don’t fit this concept as precisely. The Eraser Tool physically removes pixels, which is destructive editing. Converting a layer to a Smart Object preserves the original data and allows non-destructive transformations, but it isn’t describing masking itself. Clipping masks control how a layer’s content is revealed by the layer below and can be adjusted or released without permanently altering the underlying content, so they don’t describe non-destructive masking in the same way a layer mask does.