# Sprite Mask component reference

> Explore the properties you use to hide and reveal parts of sprites with a sprite mask.

Explore the properties you use to hide and reveal parts of sprites with a sprite mask. For more information about using sprite masks, refer to [Masking sprites](/engine/6000.7/manual/unity2d/sprite/mask.md).

| **Property**             | **Description**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| ------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Mask Source**          | Selects what to use as the source of the mask texture. In the mask texture, use opaque pixels for the mask shape, and a transparent background for outside the mask. The options are:**Sprite**: Uses the texture from a sprite.**Supported Renderer**: Uses the texture from the sprite on a renderer component attached to the GameObject.                                                                                        |
| **Sprite**               | Sets the sprite to use as the source of the mask texture. This property is available only when you set **Mask Source** to **Sprite**.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| **Supported Renderer**   | Sets the renderer to use as the source of the mask texture. This option is available only when you set **Mask Source** to **Supported Renderer**, and the GameObject has one of the following renderer components attached:Sprite RendererSprite Shape RendererTilemap Renderer                                                                                                                                                     |
| **Sprite Sort Point**    | Selects the point Unity uses as the distance of the mask from the camera, for example in sorting calculations. This option is available only when you set **Mask Source** to **Sprite**. The options are:**Center**: Uses the center of the sprite.**Pivot**: Uses the **Pivot** property of the sprite. For more information about setting the pivot point, refer to [Sprite Editor](/engine/6000.7/manual/open-sprite-editor.md). |
| **Alpha Cutoff**         | Sets the lowest alpha value Unity uses as a mask pixel. Lower values mean Unity includes more transparent pixels in the mask shape.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| **Custom Range**         | Sets the range of sorting layers that the mask affects. For more information, refer to the [Custom Range properties](#custom-range-properties) section.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| **Rendering Layer Mask** | Sets which rendering layers the mask affects. For more information, refer to [Rendering layers](/engine/6000.7/manual/lighting-overview/lighting/rendering-layers.md).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |

## Custom Range properties

Sets the range of layers that the mask affects. These properties are only available when you enable **Custom Range**.

For example, if you set the **Back** **Sorting Layer** property to sorting layer 1 and the **Front** **Sorting Layer** property to sorting layer 2, the mask affects only sorting layer 2.

| **Property** | **Sub-Property**                                             | **Description**                                                                                                            |
| ------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Front**    | Sets the highest layer and sublayer the mask affects.        |                                                                                                                            |
| N/A          | **Sorting Layer**                                            | Sets the highest layer the mask affects, so that layers in front of this layer aren't affected by the mask.                |
| N/A          | **Order in Layer**                                           | Sets the highest sublayer in the **Sorting Layer** that the mask affects.                                                  |
| **Back**     | Sets the lowest layer and sublayer not affected by the mask. |                                                                                                                            |
| N/A          | **Sorting Layer**                                            | Sets the lowest layer not affected by the mask, so that both this layer and the layers behind aren't affected by the mask. |
| N/A          | **Order in Layer**                                           | Sets the lowest sublayer not affected by the mask.                                                                         |

## Additional resources

* [Sprite Editor](/engine/6000.7/manual/open-sprite-editor.md)
* [2D renderer sorting](/engine/6000.7/manual/unity2d/sprite/sort-sprites/2d-renderer-sorting.md)