How to Use Clipping Masks in Photoshop
Learning how to us clipping masks only takes a few minutes and it will be a skill you’ll use again and again. When you create a clipping mask in one layer, it hides the contents of the layers above. Your clipping mask can be whatever you like; it could be a shape or text. I’m using text in this example and here’s what we’re going to achieve:
First thing you need is your background image. In your finished product this is the image that will ‘shine through’ your text. I’m using a tropical beach scene.
Next, create a new text layer and write the text that will form the object for the clipping mask. It’s always a good idea to use a fat, bold font when creating clipping masks from text so you can really see the image behind. I’m using a great, 100%-free font called Bevan (you can download it here for free: http://www.fontsquirrel.com/fonts/bevan).
Now we need to create the ‘mask’ layer. Go to you your Layers Palette and click the “Create a New Layer” button. You need to fill this layer with a solid color. I chose white but you can choose any colour.
We now have the three layers we need to start the magic! Go to your Layers Palette again and put your layers in this order:
- the beach image
- the text
- the new, blank layer
Your Layers Palette should look like this:
Now we need to Create a new Clipping Mask. Make sure you’ve selected the beach photograph layer, then click on the Layers Palette menu button in the top-right of the Layers Palette Window. Select “Create Clipping Mask”. Alternatively, you can press ALT + CTRL + G.
Ta-da! It’s as easy as that! Your clipping mask has magically appeared.
You can now make the final adjustments to the text to make it stand out. I’m going to add a 3px stroke to the inside of the text. Double-click on the text layer to bring up the Styles Palette and add a 3px Stroke:
That’s it, you’re done! Here’s the finished product:
I guess the question that you are all wondering though is where can I use this skill? Well, there are a number of different places that creating beautiful text can assist you. These include:
- Creating bold and noticeable headlines for pamphlets or leaflets that you plan to deliver.
- Making a website really stand out from the rest with an attractive and professional design.
- Using them in emails, so that people are immediately drawn to the design and don’t simply disregard the message as spam or yet another offer for them.
- Making attractive cards or other handicrafts, either for sale or to send to someone on their birthday or at Christmas.
As can be seen, the use of this technique is only hampered by your own creativity. So, be original and get experimenting – the results can be totally spectacular!
The3dStudio.com
I can sort of do this in Gimp, but I always have to look everything up every time I do it. I never took the time to learn enough simple graphics manipulation to be effective.