How Do I Create A Clipping Mask In Photoshop
If you lot know a little bit about layers in Photoshop, y'all probably know that you can utilise layer masks and paradigm masks to control visibility.
What you might not know, however, is that clipping masks can be a powerful alternative that can speed upward your workflow and give you more command when trying to create certain effects.
A groovy example of when to use a clipping mask in Photoshop is when you want to create a composite of some sort — for example, putting a photograph within a photo frame.
If it's only a rectangle, information technology's not as well hard to resize the photograph and position it on tiptop.
However, the clipping mask in Photoshop gives us much more control which is useful if the shape is more than circuitous than just a rectangle, or if you want to go on more control over the photograph that you're adding to the picture frame.
Let's have a closer expect at the Clipping Mask in Photoshop.
What is a Clipping Mask in Photoshop?
In short, a clipping mask is used in Photoshop to make one layer "apply" itself to the layer below, allowing you to control the visibility of the upper layer according to the pixels present on the lower layer.
At get-go, clipping masks might seem disruptive, merely imagine that the lower layer consists of pixels and no pixels.
The upper layer just shows up where the lower layer has pixels, while information technology becomes invisible in those areas where the lower layer has no pixels.
Consider the 'Before' image in a higher place taken from Photoshop. The image consists of ane layer, role of which is text, the rest of which is empty of content — therefore transparent.
(As a visual aid, Photoshop shows transparency by displaying a white and gray checkerboard, much like when using a displacement map in Photoshop.)
In Photoshop, we tin now add a layer on tiptop of this and turn it into a clipping mask.
The combination of content and transparency contained in the layer below determines what is visible of the new layer that sits above.
This is why we tin can say that the upper layer is being "practical" to the lower layer. The upper layer will be invisible unless there are pixels on the lower layer to which it can be "applied."
In the higher up example, yous can encounter two layers. The lower layer is uncomplicated blackness text and the rest of this layer is transparent. The upper layer is a photograph of some flames.
Without the clipping mask, the photograph of the flames is completely visible, obscuring half of the text below because of the fashion that it has been positioned.
When the clipping mask is added — i.eastward., when the layer to a higher place is "practical" to the layer below — the image of the flames disappears, apart from where there is content — i.e., the text "FLAMES" — in the lower layer – see the After image.
Detect that the upper layer has a little pointer to the left of it in the layers panel. This is how Photoshop shows that a clipping mask has been created and that this layer is existence applied to the layer below.
Here is the layers panel earlier the clipping mask has been added:
And here is the layers console after the clipping mask has been added:
I like to think of information technology as the upper layer being squashed onto the layer beneath. What'due south useful hither is that I can edit the text on the lower layer, or add more shapes.
In addition, I can resize the flames on the upper layer, or bandy information technology for a different prototype entirely.
What is the deviation between a layer mask and a clipping mask?
It's useful to think of a clipping mask in comparison to a layer mask.
With a layer mask, you lot create a layer and so identify a layer mask on acme of it. You and then add black to the mask to hibernate the layer beneath, or white to allow it to show through.
In effect, you have two layers: a lower layer which is your content, and a mask on pinnacle that controls what tin be seen.
Past contrast, clipping masks in Photoshop are a unlike means of controlling what is visible in a pair of layers, using the layer beneath to determine what can be seen of the layer in a higher place.
I way to understand it is to think of layer masks working and so that the black and white of the layer above determines what can be seen of the layer below, while clipping masks work and so that the pixels of the layer below determines what can be seen of the layer above
How to Create a Clipping Mask in Photoshop
Creating a clipping mask in Photoshop is simple once you have your layers in the right order.
Photoshop too gives you a useful visual indicator to show how and where a clipping mask has been practical.
This case teaches you lot how to use a clipping mask past showing you how to put a picture inside a frame.
Step 1: Fix your document
For this case, I opened upward an epitome of an empty picture frame hanging in an office in Photoshop.
Step 2: Create a new layer and add a shape
I and so created a new layer by pressing Shift + Command +N (macOS) or Shift + Control + N (Windows). You could also click on the "Create a new layer" icon in the Layers tab.
On my new layer, I drew the shape that I needed using the Rectangle Tool, and made sure that information technology was filled with a color.
The color here doesn't matter as the clipping mask volition soon mean that the layer above replaces information technology. This is the layer to which the layer above is going to be applied.
If you're struggling to find the Rectangle Tool, it'south usually in the Toolbar, towards the lesser. Make sure that yous ready Fill to a color.
Step 3: Create a third layer and add your motion-picture show
I then created another new layer (don't forget this footstep!) before dragging one of my photographs onto it from Finder (macOS) or Explorer (Windows). You need to press enter to put it into place. This is the layer that is going to be clipped.
We at present take three layers: at the bottom, we take the prototype that we first opened in Photoshop of the part with an empty moving-picture show frame.
Above that, there's the shape that I drew: "Rectangle 1."
And finally, there'due south the picture of the bearded man jumping effectually. You volition find that this layer is named after the filename.
Considering of the fashion that the layers are stacked one on top of each other, the picture of the human being jumping means that my rectangle is not visible. This is nigh to change, however.
Step 4: Create your clipping mask
I selected the height layer in the layers panel and from the menu chose "Layer" and "Create Clipping Mask." Alternatively, nosotros could use a keyboard shortcut: Control + Option + Thou (macOS) or Control + Alt + One thousand (Windows).
There is another method. Check that the uppermost layer is selected, then concur down Choice (macOS) or Alt (Windows) and hover the mouse over the division between the active layer and the layer below. The mouse will plough into a small white box with an arrow next to it.
When yous click, this will create a Clipping Mask.
Once this is done, your top layer will be turned into a clipping mask and information technology volition and then be applied to the layer below. The photo of the man jumping takes the shape of the rectangle.
five Essential Clipping Mask Tips
The dazzler of Photoshop clipping masks is that you retain so much control to be able to tweak what you have created.
Here are some tips to start making some changes.
1. How to move content within a clipping mask
Information technology's very like shooting fish in a barrel to reposition content inside a clipping mask. With the uppermost layer selected, choose the Move tool from the Toolbar or simply hit V. We tin then click and drag around the photo that nosotros placed inside the picture show frame.
2. How to resize content within a clipping mask
If nosotros want to change the size of the photograph that we've added to our flick frame using the clipping mask, we can use the Free Transform tool. Click "Edit" and then "Transform".
Alternatively, hit Command + T (macOS) or Control + T (Windows).
Y'all will see that a blue frame has appeared around the photograph and yous tin can drag this to resize it inside the "frame" that our carmine rectangle has created for it.
The photo volition retain its proportions when you resize it.
(Related: How to resize an epitome without losing quality)
iii. How to transform content further within a clipping mask
Under the "Transform" menu in Photoshop, you'll detect a host of other tools that can exist useful for tweaking your clipping mask to modify its proportions and make it fit into the desired space.
In this example, the picture frame on the wall has been photographed at an angle. In order to make the photograph of the man jumping fit better, I used the Skew tool to match the perspective of the motion picture frame itself.
iv. How to add more clipping masks
You lot can go along adding clipping masks to a layer which is invaluable when y'all want to make changes that simply bear on the clipping mask that you created earlier.
In our case, say we wanted to brand the flick in the frame black and white.
To exercise this, create a new adjustment layer and choose "Black & White…".
You'll discover that this removes color from the entire image.
Nonetheless, we can choose to utilize that adjustment layer to the Rectangle layer below. Simply repeat the steps from before: agree Pick (macOS) or Alt (Windows) and click in between our Black and White aligning layer and the layer below.
The clipping mask icon will appear and clicking will make it apply to the Rectangle layer above.
Notice that our part is now colorful once more while the picture in the frame remains black and white. Y'all'll detect that at that place'due south now a clipping mask symbol next to the Black & White adjustment layer in the layers panel.
This might exist a useful trick to remember for other reasons, too. For instance, if yous cut out a headshot and paste it onto a new background, you might then want to apply a curves adjustment to the headshot, and not to the new background.
You can create your adjustment and and then apply it only to the headshot by turning that aligning layer into a clipping mask.
5. How to remove a clipping mask
If at whatever signal you need to reverse a clipping mask that you lot've created — peradventure you clipped the wrong layer — the process is very straightforward. Just click "Layer" and "Release Clipping Mask".
Or, y'all can hold Option (macOS) or Alt (Windows) and hover betwixt the clipped layer and the layer above:
Photoshop Clipping Mask FAQs
How does a clipping mask work?
Clipping masks allow you to apply pixels from an image just where there are pixels in an underlying layer. For instance, you tin can draw a circumvolve in one layer and fill it with colour to make a solid object, so insert a photo over the top in another layer and apply a clipping mask so that the photo merely displays within that circle.
What are clipping masks used for?
They're commonly used in graphic design when creating layouts, or in photography for creating photo composites. For case, you can apply a clipping mask to overlay a texture onto some text or to insert a photograph into a photo frame (as in the instance higher up).
What is the shortcut key of the clipping mask in Adobe Photoshop?
The shortcut to create a clipping mask is Control + Selection + M (macOS) or Control + Alt + G (Windows). Alternatively, hold down Option (macOS) or Alt (Windows) and hover your mouse between the 2 top layers in the Layers panel. When a down arrow appears, click to apply the mask.
Why can't I create a clipping mask?
You must have more than one layer (the underlying object and the overlay) and both must be visible. The underlying layer must as well have filled-in pixels where you lot want to show the top layer, so exist certain it'south not an empty path.
Terminal Words
The clipping masks in Photoshop tin be useful to understand when you come to creating composites of your images, such equally making a photograph appear every bit though it's in a flick frame, or perhaps enhancing some text by setting it on fire.
Photoshop clipping masks tin can also be a useful manner to control your changes to an epitome, allowing you lot to finetune adjustments and target specific areas.
Once you lot have your head effectually how they work, understanding clipping masks is a handy add-on to your arsenal of Photoshop techniques, and you might suddenly find yourself using them more ofttimes than you expect.
If yous have whatever comments or questions, be sure to go out a comment below!
Source: https://shotkit.com/photoshop-clipping-mask/
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