Clipping Masks

Learn how to use Clipping Masks in photoshop.



This tutorial works in photoshop, I have tried it in 7, CS, and i'm using CS2 for this

tutorial. Any problems, feel free to PM me or post here.

Note: All pictures in here are thumbbed.

Step one, Open up a blank canvas, add a layer, and then choose a brush:


Like so. Now draw some crazy shape with any brush.

But be sure you do it on your newly created layer. Or else it won't work.

Now create a layer above that and then here comes a fun part. With your left hand, hold

the alt key, while with your right hand, using the left click part of the mouse, hover

your mouse where the blue is highlighted.

You will see this arrow that shows 2 circles that resemble a ven diagram, one is white

while the other is shaded black. Once that pops up, then click. Your layers pallete will

now look like this:

See how the arrow is pointed down on the layer with the funky shape? That means that

whatever you do on the layer that has the arrow pointing down to the left will only

appear on the crazy shape. I'll show you.
I'm going to use this picture of Maggie Grace:

and PASTE IT onto the layer with my arrow.

After some resizing and this is my end result:


Voila!

Really, if you have any issues, just post here or PM me. I've been using these things for

like ever.

Nevermind. I'm so slow.

How do you do the ALT key and the rest to show an arrow pointing on Layer 1?

Thanyou! You're a total lifesaver

THANKS SO MUCH! I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS EVERYWHERE! *hugs*

Oh my god. Thank youuu. I'm doing this right now and so far it looks great.

An even better way to do this if you are dissatisfied with you final image is that you can always use your eraser to clear out the 'Layer 1'. Afterwards, draw your shape in again on 'Layer 1', but this time the photo you use in to paste shows up, so that you can kinda get a thought on how you want your final to really look like. Hope that helps. :)

This is really neat
i have a problem with my black though it comes out grey instead of black black black....idk? haha
it still worked for me but not as great

very nicee.

can you do this tutorial again with text instead of a picture, please

I'm confused.
Which layer do I paste it in, & When I try to paste it, it comes as invalid?

Help please?

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Author	technicolour
Submitted on	May 5, 2006
Page views	44,097
Favorites	252
Comments	32

clipping, clipping masks, mask