Using a Clipping Mask

October 14, 2007 | Filed Under Tutorials 

You might be wondering just how you would go about playing around with a clipping mask (like the one that’s included in my Little Circle Tag freebie). Well, I’ve gone to the trouble of taking a few screen shots to show you just how I used these elements to make my sample tag. Here are my instructions. I hope you find them to be helpful!

How to Use a Clipping Mask:

1) First, begin by opening the .png file. Use the Marquee Tool (M) to draw a box around the circle to select it.

screenshot one

2) Next, we are going to move this mask to a new “Layer via Cut” which is quickly done with a keyboard command: CTRL+Shift+J.

3) Now, be sure to drag the mask layer down so that it is behind the metal tag. Align the two layers and open your patterned paper:

screenshot two

4) Using the Move Tool (V), drag your paper straight from it’s window into your tag file (nifty little trick, eh?). Position the paper layer to be between mask layer and the metal tag layer.

5) Now all you need to do is create a Clipping Mask (either by right clicking on the layer and selecting “Create Clipping Mask” or using the command CTRL+ALT+G or CTRL + G, depending on your program). Once you’ve done this, you’ll have a tag that looks like this:

screenshot three

That’s all there is to it! And it’s a handy trick to have in your tool box. Let me know if you have any questions! I’d be happy to help.

Comments

10 Responses to “Using a Clipping Mask”

  1. TammyM
    on October 14th, 2007 at 9:56 am

    I get all the way to step 5 and I can’t get it to “clip”. I am such a digi dodo. Can you tell me what I am doing wrong?

  2. Nancy P
    on October 14th, 2007 at 9:43 pm

    Nicole -
    Will this technique work with Photoshop Elements 4.0? I have never used the clipping mask, so I am happy to learn how to use it. Thank you for this very nice gift and the directions on how to use it!

  3. Cindy
    on October 15th, 2007 at 4:04 am

    Hi ! I just found your blog and you have GREAT freebies ~ thank you :)

  4. PhyLLis
    on October 15th, 2007 at 10:59 am

    Thanks so much for the great clipping mask tut and for the cute ring tags – can’t wait to play around with both!

  5. {my bloggity blog} » Blog Archive » my first digi-tutorial.
    on October 15th, 2007 at 2:45 pm

    [...] what did I go and do not even one day later? I made a tutorial for my digital scrapbooking [...]

  6. Nicole Seitler
    on October 16th, 2007 at 10:34 am

    For other PSE users, Tammy said that CTRL+G is the command for a Clipping Mask.

  7. Leslie (snaphappyinkymomma)
    on October 17th, 2007 at 6:40 pm

    I was just about to tell you the PSE shortcut, but someone beat me to it! :)

  8. Josie
    on October 17th, 2007 at 9:37 pm

    Thanks for the wonderful Tut and the great tags!

  9. cindyrelly
    on October 25th, 2007 at 6:46 pm

    Hi Nicole,
    I’ve been looking around for your email address and either I’m too tired/blind or BOTH but I didn’t see it? I made some tags with this little tut and freebie of yours and I wanted to know if it is okay to share them as a part of my ( first ) collection which is a freebie? Let me know if you want to see them too…I can zip em up for you to download. BFN…Cindy

  10. Sugarplum Paperie » Blog Archive » Pewter Heart Tag
    on October 29th, 2007 at 2:19 pm

    [...] wondering just what I intend you to use this shape for, be sure to check out my mini-tutorial here: Using a Clipping Mask. And stay tuned for another little mini-tutorial on how to make your own clipping [...]

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