Experiences with luminosity masking

[billtils]

I've been exploring luminosity masking lately, and would be interested to hear from members who use it, especially your experiences in regard to where it fits into your workflow.

[wannoo]

They're part of my workflow for some years now and can't imagine me editing without them anymore.
I'm also using TKActions panel but the bulk of my masking is done manually: ctrl-alt etc... and via the apply image panel.

Sharpening example: protecting shadows (noise) and highlights when sharpening the mids
Contrast example: lum mask based on the red channel to boost contrast/definition in the clouds
Exposure example: darkening the sky (based on blue or yellow channel)
In fact to many to name...

I also don't constrict myself to the RGB channels to make masks. As you know there are 10 channels to our disposal: red/green/blue (RGB),cyan/magenta/yellow/keyplate (CMYK) and a/b/L (Lab). All of these channels can also be combined by blending them (apply image - calculations) or self blending (a channel on itself).
You can use these techniques to make masks but also apply them on a blank layer. I often use this to make my BW's.

Once you delve into that a world of infinite possibilities opens up.

[billtils]

Thanks Wannoo. I posted this on another site at the same time as here and got more than enough positive responses to give it a more serious go and am very happy.