Numerous tools designed for image processing in Adobe’s popular graphics editor are divided into separate categories: drawing, cropping, working with text, retouching, or highlighting. In the last group, specific tools for creating a selection through layer masks, which, due to their intuitive incomprehensibility, are falsely considered overly complex and even superfluous, attract attention. Clipping mask in Photoshop is one such tool. Although in reality it helps to achieve the desired result with minimal loss of time.
Mask creation
The Clipping Mask tool is designed to work with a layer containing an image and located above it in the palette. The user who knows the basic principles of Photoshop has already understood what is at stake - to work with this tool, you must have two layers.
Step 1:
- In Photoshop, open the image for processing. Change the name of the “Background” base layer by double-clicking on the name or by single-clicking on the lock icon in the form of a lock located to the right. By default, it will be called “Layer 0”.
- Press Ctrl and click on the “Create a new layer” icon located on the bottom panel of the palette. It will be located below the image.
- The final step is to create a clipping mask. In Photoshop, there are several ways to solve this problem. The Layers menu → Create Clipping Mask or keyboard shortcut Alt + Ctrl + G or press Alt and click on the border between the layers in the palette.
The graphic icon will move to the right and a downward arrow will appear near it. In this case, the image in the working window disappears. This means that the clipping mask is created correctly and ready to go.
Operating principle
In the example described above, you already understood how to create a clipping mask. It's time to deal with the use of this tool.
Step 2:
- Activate the bottom (clean) layer.
- Take any selection tool (eg. Rectangle) and create an arbitrary area.
- Apply a fill to the selected area (menu "Edit" → "Fill" or Shift + F5).
The result of the work done will appear instantly. The region of the image from the top layer that falls into the fill borders will appear in the program working window. The space left outside the fill will continue to be hidden.
- Use the Move tool to move the created shape within the image. Each time, only that area of ​​the image located above the fill will become visible. The rest of the photo will be invisible.
The described example shows how the use of the clipping mask affects the image. The practical use of this tool will be discussed in the next section.
Create selection
Having figured out how the Clipping Mask tool works in Photoshop, we consider its scope.
Step 3:
- Activate the top of the two layers located in the palette.
- Press Ctrl and click on the graphic icon of the lower layer containing the color-filled shape. The result of this operation will be loading the selected area, which will appear in the working window of the program.
- Copy the selected area of ​​the image to a new layer (menu "Layer" → "New" → "Copy to a new layer" or using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + J). As a result, a new layer will appear above the clipping mask with the content copied from the selected area.
In this way, using a clipping mask, a selection is created and applied. In Photoshop, other tools for highlighting are also used (for example, Lasso). However, using the mask, the user is protected from unexpected reset of the complex selection, because of which the whole operation will have to be carried out again. The layer with the mask is saved and, if necessary, the selection from it is loaded at any stage of processing the photograph.
Work with text
Having mastered the principles of work described above, even a novice user of the program is able to put the acquired knowledge into practice. If you figured out a clipping mask, then the book "Photoshop for Dummies" you no longer need. Start practicing:
- Open the image in Adobe Photoshop.
- Change the name of the background or click on the lock located to the right of the name of the layer.
- Click on the eye located to the left of the graphic icon. This will temporarily disable the visibility of the picture.
- Create a new layer (Shift + Ctrl + N) and place it below the open image.
- Grab the Horizontal Text Tool (T) and write on the bottom layer.
- Click on the eye of the upper image and apply a clipping mask (Alt + Ctrl + G or press Alt and click on the horizontal border). Please note that for this operation the top layer must be visible and active.
- Going to the text layer, click on the fx icon located on the bottom panel of the palette. In the dialog box that opens, turn on embossing, contour, inner shadow, glow, and click OK.
- In conclusion, duplicate the image layer (Ctrl + J) and place it below the text. Embossed inscription is ready.
Frame creation
To work with masks, the user needs to know at least the basics of Photoshop. Keyboard shortcuts for describing demos will help you easily find the right tool or feature. Now create a frame:
- Repeat steps 1 to 4 from the previous text example.
- Activate the Free Shape tool on the vertical toolbar on the left side of the workspace (U). From the pop-up window located on the right side of the upper working panel, select the "Frame" form.
- Draw a shape on the bottom layer. Right-click on the right of the graphic icon and select the top line “Blending Options” in the context menu. In the dialog box that opens, enable embossing, outline, inner shadow and glow.
- Activate the top layer and click on the eye located to the left of the graphic icon (the image will become visible). Use the Alt + Ctrl + G keys to switch to clipping mask mode.
- Copy the image (Ctrl + J) and move it down below the layer containing the frame shape.
- Apply a filter gallery to the layer. For example, in the menu: “Filter” → “Filter Gallery” → “Sketch” (select “Halftone Pattern” in the pop-up window).
The original photo frame is ready.
Mask with a brush
To create a clipping mask, various Photoshop tools are used, the description of which the user can easily find in the literature. For example, consider using a brush:
- Open the image and rename the background.
- Create a new empty layer below.
- Activate the Brush tool (B) and draw an arbitrary shape. The color of the brush does not matter - the clipping mask appears over any shaded area.
- Go to the image, press Alt and left-click on the horizontal border of the layers to enable mask mode. The shaded area will become visible. Use the Move tool (V) to move the bottom object - place it on the area of ​​the photo you need.
- Press Ctrl and click on the graphic icon of the lower layer. The selection borders will appear in the working window of the program. Without removing it, go to the image and copy the selected area (Ctrl + J). Moving the shaded area below, cut out various fragments of the image.
Transparency
The proliferation of transparency properties is another interesting quality that distinguishes the clipping mask.
In Photoshop, open the image, rename the background and add a blank layer to the bottom. Turn on the mask mode (Alt + Ctrl + G), and fill the background with color. As a result, the initial image will be displayed on your working window. Now activate the filled layer and set the value to 50% in the Opacity window. Use this property when processing files.
Fragments
The irreplaceable help of the clipping mask is clearly visible when using the tools that create the selection.
In Photoshop, open the picture from which you want to cut an arbitrary object. Create a copy of the background (Ctrl + J), add a blank layer below and fill it with an arbitrary color. Apply the clipping mask mode to the top image (Alt + Ctrl + G). Take the Lasso (L) and select the area of ​​the photo. Invert using the keyboard shortcut Shift + Ctrl + I. The final step is to delete the selected fragment using the Delete key.
Conclusion
Putting the above examples into practice will help a novice amateur to expand the range of tools in digital image processing. To work with clipping masks, follow the operation algorithm described in the examples. Do not rush at first - a random error will force you to cancel the actions performed and start editing from the initial stages.
Remember keyboard shortcuts, their use will reduce the time spent on changing photos:
- Ctrl + Z - undo the last operation.
- Ctrl + Alt + Z - cancels the sequence of operations.
- Shift + Ctrl + N - creates a new layer.
- Ctrl and click on the icon for creating a layer - adds a layer located below the active one.
- Ctrl + Alt + G - enables and disables the clipping mask mode in the Photoshop program.
For "dummies" who have recently embarked on the practice of processing digital images, numerous lessons have been posted on the Internet. Use them. Adobe Photoshop is worth exploring.