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Photoshop Clipping Mask explained

Many people wonder, what the clipping mask function in Photoshop actually does. Let me show you, it's quite simple really.

 
  Author: mat | Version: CS5 | 5th August 2011 |  
 
 
1.
 

Basic knowledge of Layers is needed for this lesson, click here for the layers lesson.

Click here to download the Photoshop file needed for this lesson then open the file in Photoshop.

You can of course use your own files if you like.

Make the Silhouette layer visible (see picture).

 
 
2.
 

Make the Ice layer visible.

 
 
3.
 

Right click the Ice layer and click Create Clipping Mask.

 
 
4.
 

That's it! You just made a clipping mask.

The Ice layer became a pattern of the Silhouette layer. If you want to put a pattern into a shape, the pattern layer should always be above the shape layer, just like it was in our case.

 
 
5.
 

Let's adjust the pattern a bit.

Choose the Move Tool (V for keyboard shortcut) ...

 
 
6.
 

... choose the Ice layer.

 
 
7.
 

Now click somewhere on the pattern and hold the mouse button and drag the pattern in every direction you like to adjust it to your liking.

You can drag it halfway out of the Silhouette if you like it like that. (see picture)

As you can see the whole Ice layer is still here, it's only masked by the Silhouette layer.

 
 
8.
 

I left the whole shape covered in pattern, I just moved it a bit in all sides till I was satisfied with the pattern.

 
 
9.
 

To release the clipping mask, just right click the Ice pattern and choose Release clipping mask.

Hope you get the clipping mask now if not, join the forum discussion.

 
 
 
   
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