Sure, here is an SEO-friendly HTML answer for the interview question "Can you explain the difference between Photoshop's layers and layer masks?":

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The Difference between Photoshop's Layers and Layer Masks

Photoshop's layers and layer masks are essential tools in photo editing. While layers allow you to stack and organize different elements of your design, layer masks enable you to hide or reveal specific parts of a layer without permanently erasing them.

Layers in Photoshop are like transparent sheets stacked on top of each other, each containing different elements of your design. You can edit each layer independently without affecting the others, allowing for greater flexibility and control over your project.

On the other hand, layer masks are grayscale images attached to individual layers that determine which parts of the layer are visible or hidden. White areas on the layer mask reveal the corresponding parts of the layer, while black areas conceal them. This non-destructive editing technique is particularly useful for creating intricate and refined edits.

In summary, layers control the visibility and stacking order of elements in your project, while layer masks fine-tune the transparency of specific parts within those layers.

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In this HTML code, the focus keyword "Photoshop layers and layer masks" is included naturally throughout the content and in the meta description to improve search engine visibility and ranking for this topic.