1. A computer implemented method comprising: accessing, by a processor, a file containing a plurality of effects to apply to an image; merging, by a processor, a plurality of visible layers of the image to create a merged layer; applying, by the processor, the plurality of effects to the merged layer; installing, by the processor, a layer mask on the merged layer; and applying, by the processor, a plurality of strokes received during an image editing process to the installed layer mask.