Clipping mask in "Photoshop" (Clipping Mask in Photoshop). "Photoshop" for Dummies

Numerous tools designed for image processing in the popular Adobe graphics editor are divided into separate categories: drawing tools, framing, text processing, retouching or selection. In the last group, specific tools for creating a selection through the layer masks pay attention to themselves, which because of their intuitive incomprehensibility are falsely considered excessively complex and even superfluous. Clipping mask in "Photoshop" - one of these tools. Although in reality it helps to achieve the desired result with minimal time loss.

Creating a mask

The Clipping Mask tool is designed to work with a layer that contains an image and is located above it in the palette. Knowing the basic basics of "Photoshop" the user has already understood what is at stake - to work with this tool you should have two layers.

Step 1:

1. In Photoshop, open the image for processing. Change the name of the background layer "Background" by double clicking on the name or by single clicking on the lock icon in the form of a lock on the right. By default, it will be named "Layer 0".
2. Press Ctrl and click on the "Create new layer" icon located on the bottom panel of the palette. It will be placed below the image.
3. The final step is creating a clipping mask. In "Photoshop" there are several ways to solve this problem. Layers menu → Create clipping mask or keyboard shortcut Alt + Ctrl + G or press Alt and click on the border between layers in the palette.

The graphic icon will move to the right and an arrow pointing down will appear near it. The image in the working window disappears. This indicates that the clipping mask is created correctly and is ready for use.

Operating principle

In the example above, you already understand how to create a clipping mask. It's time to deal with the application of this tool.

Step 2:

• Activate the lower (clean) layer.
• Take any selection tool (eg "Rectangle") and create an arbitrary area.
• Apply the fill to the selected area (the menu "Edit" → "Fill" or Shift + F5).

The result of the work done will manifest instantly. The area of the image from the top layer, which has fallen into the boundaries of the fill, will appear in the working window of the program. 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 you see only the area of the image that is located above the fill. The rest of the photo will be invisible.

The example described shows how the clipping mask works on the image. The practical use of this tool will be discussed in the next section.

Creating a Selection

Having figured out how the Clipping Mask tool works in Photoshop, let's look at its application.

Step 3:

• Activate the top of the two layers located in the palette.
• Press Ctrl and click on the graphic icon of the bottom layer containing the color-filled shape. The result of this operation is the download of the selected area, which appears 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 with content copied from the selected area will appear above the clipping mask.

In this way, a selection is created and applied using the clipping mask. In Photoshop, there are other tools used for highlighting (eg Lasso). However, by applying a mask, the user is protected from an unexpected reset of a complex selection, because of which the whole operation will have to be re-done. 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 program user is able to apply the knowledge gained in practice. If you understand the clipping mask, then the book "Photoshop for Dummies" you do not need. Start practice:

1. Open the image in Adobe Photoshop.
2. Change the name of the background or click on the lock located to the right of the layer name.
3. Click on the eyelet, located to the left of the graphic icon. This temporarily turns off the visibility of the snapshot.
4. Create a new layer (Shift + Ctrl + N) and place it below the open image.
5. Take the tool "Horizontal Text" (T) and make an inscription on the bottom layer.
6. Click on the eye of the top image and apply a clipping mask (Alt + Ctrl + G or press Alt and click on the horizontal border). Please note that to perform this operation, the top layer must be visible and active.
7. Go to the text layer and click the fx icon on the bottom panel of the palette. In the dialog box that opens, enable embossing, outline, inner shadow, glow and press "OK".
8. In conclusion, duplicate the layer with the image (Ctrl + J) and place it below the text. The embossed inscription is ready.

Creating a frame

To work with masks, the user needs to know at least the basics of "Photoshop". Keyboard shortcuts when describing the demonstration examples will help to easily find the right tool or function. Now create a frame:

1. Repeat steps 1 through 4 of the previous example of working with text.
2. Activate the Free Shape tool on the vertical toolbar on the left side of the workspace (U). From the drop-down box located on the right side of the top work panel, select the "Frame" form.
3. Draw a shape on the bottom layer. Right-click the mouse to the right of the graphic icon and select the top line "Overlay options" in the context menu. In the dialog that appears, enable embossing, outline, inner shadow and glow.
4. Activate the top layer and click on the eyelet to the left of the graphic icon (the image becomes visible). With the Alt + Ctrl + G keys, go to the clipping mask mode.
5. Copy the image (Ctrl + J) and move it down, below the layer containing the shape of the frame.
6. Apply the filter gallery to the layer. For example, in the menu: "Filter" → "Filter Gallery" → "Sketch" (in the drop-down box, select "Halftone pattern").

The original frame for the photo is ready.

Mask with a brush

To create a clipping mask, use various tools of "Photoshop", the description of which the user can easily find in the special literature. For an example, consider using a brush:

• Open the image and rename the background.
• Below, create a new empty layer.
• Activate the Brush tool (B) and draw an arbitrary shape. The color of the brush does not matter - the clipping mask appears over any painted area.
• Go to the image, press Alt and left-click on the horizontal border of the layers to activate the mask mode. The painted area becomes visible. Use the Move tool (V) to move the bottom object - place it on the desired area of the photo.
• Press Ctrl and click on the graphic icon of the bottom layer. The selection borders 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 spreading of the transparency property is another interesting quality, which differs the clipping mask.

In Photoshop, open the image, rename the background and add a blank layer from the bottom. Turn on the mask mode (Alt + Ctrl + G), and fill the background with a color. As a result, you will see the original image on the working window. Now activate the fill layer and set the value to 50% in the Opacity window. Use this property when processing files.

Fragments

The irreplaceable help of a clipping mask is clearly visible when using tools that create a selection.

In Photoshop, open a snapshot from which you want to cut an arbitrary object. Create a background copy (Ctrl + J), add a blank layer below and fill it with an arbitrary color. Apply the clipping mask mode (Alt + Ctrl + G) to the upper image. Take the Lasso (L) and select the photo area. Invert using Shift + Ctrl + I. The final step is to delete the selection using the Delete key.

Conclusion

The practical application of the examples discussed above will help a novice lover expand the range of tools when processing digital images. To work with clipping masks, follow the operation algorithm described in the examples. At first, do not rush - an accidental mistake will cause you to cancel the actions performed and start editing from the initial stages.

Remember keyboard shortcuts, their use will shorten the time spent 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 layer creation icon - adds a layer below the active layer.
• Ctrl + Alt + G - turns on and off the clipping mask mode in Photoshop.

For "dummies", who have recently started the practice of processing digital images, numerous lessons are posted on the Internet. Use them. Adobe Photoshop is worth it to study.