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©shabbyprincessdesigns
This
tutorial will help to explain how to create clipping masks in
Photoshop ELEMENTS :o) The CLIPPING MASK feature allows you to
'clip' papers (or photos, etc.) to shapes and text. When
comparing to 'real world' applications - think of cutting out a
piece of patterned paper to mod podge to a heart made of chipboard
:o) Best of all - this is sooooo easy to do DIGITALLY!
So, follow along below...and have fun customizing all kinds of
shapes and text...and whatever else you can think of!
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Open up
the file/shape that you want to work with (or, create
the text that you wish to 'cover')! In this
example...we are working with our EASY AS PIE template
shared for free at the Shoppe's
BLOG! Also, open your paper (or photo, etc.)
and place it on the shape file. You will want to
be sure that the paper (or photo) layer is ABOVE the
shape layer. |
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Above is a
close-up of how your layer palette should appear.
Again, you want your paper or photo layer ABOVE the
shape layer that you are trying to 'clip' to. For
this example, we will be 'clipping' the PLAID paper to
the TOP PAPER STRIP. |
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To
create a clipping mask, you simply press ALT and G (or COMMAND and G
on a Mac) on your keyboard (while on the PAPER layer).
This will 'clip' the paper to the shape on the layer
directly below it. |
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Above is what your
layer palette will look like once the paper has been clipped to the
layer below it. |
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If you wish to MERGE your clipped paper layer with the shape
below it, highlight or select BOTH layers and simply press ALT (or
COMMAND on a Mac) and E. You'll see that the two layers have
now become one new layer. Keep in mind that if you had a drop shadow
on either layer...when you merge them together - you will no longer
be able to edit that drop shadow. So, we advise that IF you
are going to merge your layers...wait and apply the drop shadow
after the merge. |
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Above, you can see that now the two layers are now merged in your
layer palette. |
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If you wish to LINK your clipped paper layer with the shape
layer below it, highlight or select BOTH layers and simply click the
LOCK icon in the layer palette (palette bin) - OR - you can RIGHT
CLICK and select LINK LAYERS. You'll see that the two layers
are now linked. This way - you can move either of the
layers...and they will stay together. |
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Above you can see the link icons on the layers :o) |
THAT'S IT :o) I hope you have fun
working with this super useful and fun
technique! I cannot tell you how
often I work with clipping masks in both
my designing and scrapping!
©shabbyprincessdesigns
theshabbyshoppe
--thanks to Nicole for the PS elements screen shots-- |