{"id":1190,"date":"2009-05-26T11:14:26","date_gmt":"2009-05-26T16:14:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cottagearts.net\/blog\/?p=1190"},"modified":"2010-10-14T22:03:53","modified_gmt":"2010-10-15T03:03:53","slug":"clipping-mask-tutorial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cottagearts.net\/blog\/clipping-mask-tutorial\/","title":{"rendered":"Clipping Mask Tutorial"},"content":{"rendered":"

Revised to add: See an additional Click.Mask tutorial here<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

======================================<\/p>\n

Hello! Jolene<\/a> here with a super fun technique using Adobe Photoshop (or Photoshop Elements) clipping masks. Our newsletter last week had a similar tutorial, however, this includes the screen shot visuals.ngg_shortcode_0_placeholder<\/p>\n

One of my favorite things about digital scrapbooking is the versatility of the graphics! Colors can be adjusted to better coordinate with photos, textures exploited, and papers no longer have to be simply papers! Clipping masks have been my soupe du jour lately. Once you see how simple they are to use, you won\u2019t be able to resist giving it a shot! A brief summary of what they do \u2013 the top layer, with all of its glory, takes the shape of whatever you have directly underneath. And of course, the effect can all be modified using layer blend modes!<\/p>\n

In this layout, I\u2019ve started the bare-bones of putting together my page. I’m using a Power Border<\/a>, however, don’t want to simply change its color. I’d like to fill it with a patterned paper from Keys 2 My Heart Pak<\/a>. This is where clipping masks come into play!ngg_shortcode_1_placeholder<\/p>\n

Using File>Place<\/strong> I browse my system folders and find the paper that I\u2019d rather be using and highlight it, then click Place<\/strong>.ngg_shortcode_2_placeholder<\/p>\n

Press Enter or click on the check mark to Commit Transform. Use the move tool to position the paper if it isn’t where you desire.<\/p>\n

Since I had my power border highlighted\/active before doing this step, Photoshop will place this paper directly above the power border layer, centered in the open document. If your paper didn\u2019t end up where you expected, simply drag it above the layer you want to modify, in the layer palette.ngg_shortcode_3_placeholder<\/p>\n

Ready for the magic?? Here we go!<\/p>\n

Click on the thumbnail of the paper in the layer palette and in: <\/strong><\/p>\n

PSCS<\/strong> and above<\/strong> – press Ctrl+Alt+G (Cmd+Opt+G for Mac) <\/strong>or choose Layer>Create Clipping Mask<\/strong><\/p>\n

PSE 3 and above<\/strong> – press Ctrl+G (Cmd+G for Mac)<\/strong> or choose Layer>Group with Previous<\/strong>ngg_shortcode_4_placeholder
\n <\/strong><\/p>\n

and… VOILA! Your top paper layer has taken the shape of the power border layer that is underneath! The options with this are endless.<\/p>\n

Some other examples of how it could be used\u2026<\/p>\n