> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mago.studio/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Mask # Mask Workspace [← Modify Frame](/guide/workspaces/modify-frame) · [Workspaces](/guide/overview#the-five-workspaces) · [Next: Upscale →](/guide/workspaces/upscale) *** The Mask workspace generates masks — definitions of which parts of a video get edited and which stay intact. Masks are used primarily by [Mago Inpaint](/models/mago-video-models#mago-inpaint), but can also be downloaded for external compositing. ## When to use masks Mask-based editing fits when: * Only a specific element needs to change (a character's shirt, a single prop, the background only). * The rest of the video must be preserved exactly. * Repeated targeted edits are needed (mask once, apply many times). > **⚠️ Warning** — Don't use a mask when the *entire* frame needs to transform. Use [Mago Transform](/models/mago-video-models#mago-transform) or [Mago Style Transfer](/models/mago-video-models#mago-style-transfer) instead. ## Mask generation modes | Mode | How it works | When to use | | -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Prompts** | Text describes the element, e.g. *"red car"* or *"main character"*. | Quick masking when the element is easy to describe. | | **Points** | Click the frame to mark areas with positive/negative points. | Precise selection of irregular shapes, or when prompts are ambiguous. | | **Prompts + Points** | Combine both — prompts coarse, points refine. | Most reliable for complex scenes. | ## Points editor Points editor in use. 1. Click the **Points** selector to open the editor. 2. Switch to **Add** mode and click to mark areas *inside* the mask. 3. Switch to **Remove** mode to mark areas *excluded* from the mask. 4. Click any placed point to delete it individually. 5. Use **Clear All** to start over. 6. Switch frames if needed — the visual selection is anchored to the chosen frame. (Selection on any frame is being rolled out.) ## Mask refinement Three settings refine the generated mask: * **Invert mask** — swap inside and outside. Available under both Prompt and Visual selection modes. Useful when masking an element to *keep* while changing everything else. * **Expand mask** — grow the mask outward by N pixels. Useful when too tight (visible seams), or for character replacement where the new character extends beyond the original silhouette. * **Blur mask** — soften edges for smoother transitions. ## Mask tracks Mask renders appear in a dedicated timeline that shows only mask tracks in this workspace. Each mask track can be: * Used as input to Mago Inpaint in Render Video. * Downloaded for external compositing software. * Compared with the source via slider or side-by-side. ## Recommended practice 1. Always run a few test masks before committing to a render. 2. Use the comparison slider to verify coverage against the source. 3. If the mask is too tight, increase **Expand** by 5–10 px. 4. If edges look hard in the final result, increase **Blur**. 5. For multi-element scenes, use **Prompts + Points** for highest reliability. > **📐 Pixel fidelity** — Mago Inpaint, like virtually every video model, does not operate in pure pixel space. Unmasked regions can shift slightly (brightness, color) due to compression during processing. For pixel-perfect preservation: download the mask, run the Inpaint render, then composite the result against the original source in DaVinci, After Effects, or Fusion using the downloaded mask. See [Export & compositing](/guide/export-and-compositing#mask-export). *** [← Modify Frame](/guide/workspaces/modify-frame) · [Workspaces](/guide/overview#the-five-workspaces) · [Next: Upscale →](/guide/workspaces/upscale)