diff --git a/stimupy/stimuli/__init__.py b/stimupy/stimuli/__init__.py
index 2278746..7a12161 100644
--- a/stimupy/stimuli/__init__.py
+++ b/stimupy/stimuli/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
+import numpy as np
 from stimupy.stimuli import *
 
 __all__ = [
+    "mask_targets",
     "overview",
     "plot_overview",
     "benarys",
@@ -27,6 +29,52 @@
 ]
 
 
+def mask_targets(element_mask, target_indices):
+    """Indicate elements as targets
+
+    Creates a new target_mask from a mask of elements (e.g., grating bars, rings, frames, etc.),
+    by indexing these elements.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    element_mask : numpy.ndarray
+        mask with integer values for different elements / regions in a stimulus
+    target_indices : Sequence[int] or int
+        index or indices of elements to be designated as targets.
+        Index 0 should always refer to background region.
+        Indices can be negative, which results in "counting backwards"
+        from the highest index in element_mask.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    numpy.ndarray
+        target mask, with integer values indicating target regions,
+        in order that they appear in target_indices
+
+    Raises
+    ------
+    ValueError
+        if a target_idx is greater than any value in the element_mask
+    """
+    if target_indices is None:
+        target_indices = ()
+    if isinstance(target_indices, (int, float)):
+        target_indices = [
+            target_indices,
+        ]
+
+    target_mask = np.zeros_like(element_mask)
+    for target_idx, element_idx in enumerate(target_indices):
+        if element_idx < 0:
+            element_idx = int(element_mask.max()) + element_idx
+
+        if element_idx > element_mask.max():
+            raise ValueError("target_idx is outside stimulus")
+        target_mask = np.where(element_mask == element_idx, target_idx + 1, target_mask)
+
+    return target_mask
+
+
 def overview(skip=False):
     """Generate example stimuli from this module
 
@@ -37,7 +85,7 @@ def overview(skip=False):
     """
     stimuli = {}
     for stimmodule_name in __all__:
-        if stimmodule_name in ["overview", "plot_overview"]:
+        if stimmodule_name in ["overview", "plot_overview", "mask_targets"]:
             continue
 
         print(f"Generating stimuli from {stimmodule_name}")