CLIPPING MASK IN PHOTOSHOP

CLIPPING MASKS FOR TYPOGRAPHY

1.    Create a new document in Photoshop. Type your word(s). I chose “CLIPPING MASK” to keep things simple, but you could choose your own text.

2.    Create a new layer on top off your text layer. You can create a new layer either by going to Layer >> New >> Layer (in the top menu) OR by clicking CTRL + SHIFT+ N OR by clicking the thing that looks like a piece of paper next to the trash can in the bottom right of your layers panel. New layer will be blank. Then, choose design or picture which you want inside text. I chose crocodile picture for “MASK” word and map for “CLIPPING” word.

3.    Make sure your new layer is highlighted in the layers panel (like mine is). Then, go to Layer >> Create Clipping Mask. A shortcut is to hold ALT key between your two layers (in the layers panel) with your cursor while holding down the option key (on a Mac). You’ll see a little arrow pop up and when you click, it will create a clipping mask.

CLIPPING MASKS FOR CUSTOM PHOTO LAYOUTS

           In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to make a custom photo layout. I’ll show you how to               make a grid with four polygon images, but you can easily use this tutorial to create                 round images, grids with more images, etc.

1.    Use the polygon tool (in your toolbar on the left) to create a polygon. It doesn’t matter what color it is.

2.    Create three more polygons.  Easy way to do this. Right-click your first polygon layer and then click “Duplicate Layer.” This will create an exact copy of your polygon, which you can then drag next to your original polygon. Then, you can highlight the first two (in the layers panel on the right) and click “Duplicate Layer” again and drag those two new copies to the bottom, so that you now have four polygons of equal proportion and in the same alignment.

3.    Drag a photo or image into your document. This photo will take on the shape of the polygon that it sits ABOVE in the layers panel. The image below is import, because you’ll notice that my image is above the top left polygon in my layers panel AND it’s on top of that polygon in the actual document.

4.    Do the same thing to all polygons of your other until you’ve created your layout. I often create layouts like this and then save them as templates to computer.

          Check out Final image.