{"id":2803,"date":"2018-01-07T00:01:12","date_gmt":"2018-01-07T05:01:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.photoshopessentials.com\/?p=2803"},"modified":"2022-11-05T09:51:48","modified_gmt":"2022-11-05T13:51:48","slug":"clipping-masks-essentials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.photoshopessentials.com\/newsite\/basics\/clipping-masks-essentials\/","title":{"rendered":"Clipping Masks in Photoshop"},"content":{"rendered":"<section>\n<div id=\"author\">Written by Steve Patterson.<\/div>\n<p>In this tutorial, I show you how to use clipping masks in Photoshop to show and hide different parts of a layer and fit images into shapes! We'll learn the basics of how to create a clipping mask, and we'll explore the idea behind them in more detail so that by the end of this lesson, you'll have a solid grasp on how clipping masks work.<\/p>\n<p>I'm  using Photoshop CC but clipping masks work the same way in all recent versions. You can <a href=\"https:\/\/adobe.prf.hn\/click\/camref:1100lrdjJ\/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.adobe.com%2Fproducts%2Fphotoshop.html\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Get Photoshop\" rel=\"noopener\">get the latest Photoshop version here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"sub\">What Are Clipping Masks?<\/h2>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n.adslot-2 { display: inline-block; width:300px; float:right; margin: 6px 0px 12px 20px; }\n@media (max-width: 767px) { .adslot-2 { display: none; } }\n<\/style><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script>\n<!-- 300x250 photoshop basics top responsive -->\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle adslot-2\"     \n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-6601556224092982\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"7310008691\"\n     data-ad-format=\"rectangle\"><\/ins>\n<script>\n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script>\n<p>Clipping masks in Photoshop are a powerful way to control the visibility of a layer. In that sense, clipping masks are similar to layer masks. But while the end result may <em>look<\/em> the same, clipping masks and layer masks are very different. A <a href=\"\/basics\/understanding-photoshop-layer-masks\/\" title=\"Learn more about layer masks\">layer mask<\/a> uses black and white to show and hide different parts of the layer. But a <em>clipping mask<\/em> uses the <em>content and transparency<\/em> of one layer to control the visibility of another.<\/p>\n<p>To create a clipping mask, we need two layers. The layer on the bottom controls the visibility of the layer above it. In other words, the bottom layer is the <em>mask<\/em>, and the layer above it is the layer that's <em>clipped<\/em> to the mask. <\/p>\n<p>Where the bottom layer contains actual <em>content<\/em> (pixels, shapes, or type), the content on the layer above it is visible. But if any part of the layer on the bottom is <em>transparent<\/em>, then that same area on the layer above it will be hidden. That may sound more confusing than how a layer mask works, but clipping masks are just as easy to use. Let's create a clipping mask ourselves so we can better understand how they work.<\/p>\n<p class=\"members-ad-top\"><a href=\"\/print-ready-pdfs\/\">Download all of our Photoshop tutorials as PDFs!<\/a><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"sub\">How A Clipping Mask Works<\/h2>\n<p>To really make sense of clipping masks, we first need to understand the difference between <em>content<\/em> and <em>transparency<\/em> on a layer. To follow along with me, you can open any image.  I'll use this photo of my little friend here who's also trying to understand, in her own way, what this clipping stuff is all about (<a href=\"https:\/\/adobe.prf.hn\/click\/camref:1100lrdjJ\/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fstock.adobe.com%2Fstock-photo%2Fgrooming%2F25030135\" title=\"View image\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">photo<\/a> from Adobe Stock):<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/original-photo.jpg\" alt=\"Open a photo to learn how clipping masks work\" width=\"642\" height=\"496\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">The original image. Photo credit: Adobe Stock.<\/div>\n<h3>A <em>Mask<\/em> Layer And A <em>Clipped<\/em> Layer<\/h3>\n<p>If we look in the <a href=\"\/basics\/layers\/layers-panel\/\">Layers panel<\/a>, we see the photo on the <a href=\"\/basics\/background-layer-photoshop-cc\/\" title=\"Learn more about the Background layer\">Background layer<\/a>, which is currently the only layer in the document:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/photoshop-background-layer.png\" alt=\"Photoshop Layers panel showing the original photo on the Background layer\" width=\"287\" height=\"288\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">The Layers panel showing the photo on the Background layer.<\/div>\n<p>We need <em>two<\/em> layers to create a clipping mask, one to serve as the mask and one that will be clipped to the mask, so let's add a second layer. We'll add the new layer below the image. First, unlock the Background layer. In Photoshop CC, click the <strong>lock icon<\/strong> to unlock it. In Photoshop CS6 or earlier, press and hold the <strong>Alt<\/strong> (Win) \/ <strong>Option<\/strong> (Mac) key on your keyboard and double-click on the Background layer:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/background-layer-lock-icon-photoshop.png\" alt=\"Unlocking the Background layer in Photoshop\" width=\"287\" height=\"186\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Unlocking the Background layer.<\/div>\n<p>This unlocks the Background layer and renames it &quot;Layer 0&quot;:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/unlock-background-layer-photoshop.png\" alt=\"The Background layer has been unlocked in Photoshop\" width=\"287\" height=\"213\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Unlocking the Background layer lets us add a new layer below it.<\/div>\n<p>Then, to add a new layer below the image, press and hold the <strong>Ctrl<\/strong> (Win) \/ <strong>Command<\/strong> (Mac) key on your keyboard and click the <strong>Add New Layer<\/strong> icon:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/create-new-layer-photoshop.png\" alt=\"Adding a new layer below the image to create a clipping mask\" width=\"287\" height=\"189\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Adding a new layer below the image.<\/div>\n<p>A new layer named &quot;Layer 1&quot; appears below the photo, and we now have two layers in the document. We'll turn the bottom layer into the mask, and the image above it will be clipped to the mask:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/new-layer-below-image-photoshop.png\" alt=\"The second layer needed for the clipping mask has been added to the document in Photoshop\" width=\"287\" height=\"215\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">The second layer needed for the clipping mask has been added.<\/div>\n<h3>Understanding Clipping Masks: Content vs Transparency<\/h3>\n<p>Hide the original image for the moment by clicking the top layer's <strong>visibility icon<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/layer-visibility-icon-photoshop.png\" alt=\"Clicking the layer visibility icon to hide the image\" width=\"303\" height=\"215\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Clicking the visibility icon to hide the photo.<\/div>\n<p>With the top layer turned off, we see the layer we just added. By default, new layers in Photoshop are blank, meaning they have no content at all.  A layer with no content is <em>transparent<\/em> and we see right through it. When there are no other layers below a transparent layer, Photoshop displays the transparency as a checkerboard pattern, as we see here:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/photoshop-transparent-layer.png\" alt=\"The layer on the bottom is transparent, indicated by the checkerboard pattern in Photoshop\" width=\"644\" height=\"496\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">The checkerboard pattern means the bottom layer is transparent.<\/div>\n<p>Turn the top layer back on by clicking again on it  visibility icon:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/hidden-layer-visibility-icon-photoshop.png\" alt=\"Clicking the layer visibility icon again in the Layers panel.\" width=\"303\" height=\"215\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Clicking the same visibility icon.<\/div>\n<p>The top layer contains actual <em>content<\/em>. In this case, it's pixel-based content because we're looking at a digital photo, but in Photoshop, content could also be a vector shape  or even text. Really, anything that isn't transparency is considered content:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/original-photo.jpg\" alt=\"The layer on top contains content, in this case a pixel-based image\" width=\"642\" height=\"496\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">The top layer contains actual content.<\/div>\n<h3>How To Create A Clipping Mask In Photoshop<\/h3>\n<p>Clipping masks use the content and transparency of the layer below to control the visibility of the layer above. Let's create a clipping mask using our two layers and see what happens. <\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n.ads-middle { display: inline-block; width:300px; margin:6px 0px 24px 0px; padding-top: 16px; padding-bottom: 16px; }\n@media (max-width: 515px) { .ads-middle { margin:20px 0; } }\n@media (max-width: 480px) { .ads-middle { margin:20px 0; } }\n<\/style><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-6601556224092982\"\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\n<!-- photo effects 300x250 middle responsive -->\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle ads-middle\"\n     style=\"display:block\"\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-6601556224092982\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"4216941496\"\n     data-ad-format=\"rectangle\"\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script>\n<h4>Step 1: Select The Layer That Will Be Clipped<\/h4>\n<p>When creating a clipping mask, we first need to select the layer that's going to be clipped to the layer below it. In this case, the top layer (&quot;Layer 0&quot;) will be clipped to the bottom layer (&quot;Layer 1&quot;), so make sure the top layer is selected:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/select-top-layer-photoshop.png\" alt=\"Selecting the layer that will be clipped to the layer below\" width=\"286\" height=\"214\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Selecting the top layer.<\/div>\n<h4>Step 2: Choose \"Create Clipping Mask\"<\/h4>\n<p>To create the clipping mask, go up to the <strong>Layer<\/strong> menu in the Menu Bar and choose <strong>Create Clipping Mask<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/photoshop-create-clipping-mask-command.png\" alt=\"Selecting the Create Clipping Mask command from the Layer menu in Photoshop\" width=\"239\" height=\"141\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Go to Layer &gt; Create Clipping Mask.<\/div>\n<p>And that's all there is to it! With the layer mask created, the Layers panel now shows the top layer (&quot;Layer 0&quot; ) indented to the right, with a small arrow pointing down at &quot;Layer 1&quot; below it. This is how Photoshop tells us that the top layer is now clipped to the layer below:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/photoshop-initial-clipping-mask.png\" alt=\"The Layers panel showing the clipping mask, with the top layer clipped to the mask layer below\" width=\"287\" height=\"216\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">The Layers panel showing the top layer clipped to the bottom layer.<\/div>\n<p>But the problem is, all we've accomplished so far by creating a clipping mask is that we've hidden the image from view, and that's because our mask layer (&quot;Layer 1&quot;) contains no content. It's completely transparent. With a clipping mask, any areas on the top layer that are sitting directly above transparent areas on the bottom layer are hidden. Since the bottom layer contains nothing but transparency, no part of the image above it is visible:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/photoshop-transparent-layer.png\" alt=\"Creating a clipping mask from a transparent layer hides the image above it from view\" width=\"644\" height=\"496\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">With no content on the mask layer, the image on the clipped layer is hidden.<\/div>\n<h3>How To Release A Clipping Mask<\/h3>\n<p>That wasn't very interesting, so release the clipping mask by going up to the <strong>Layer<\/strong> menu and choosing <strong>Release Clipping Mask<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/photoshop-release-clipping-mask-command.png\" alt=\"Choosing the Release Clipping Mask command from the Layer menu in Photoshop\" width=\"248\" height=\"141\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Going to Layer &gt; Release Clipping Mask.<\/div>\n<p>In the Layers panel, the top layer is no longer indented to the right, which means it's no longer clipped to the layer below:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/clipping-mask-released-photoshop.png\" alt=\"The Layers panel showing that the clipping mask has been released.\" width=\"287\" height=\"215\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">The layer mask has been released.<\/div>\n<p>And in the document, we're back to seeing our image:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/original-photo.jpg\" alt=\"The image is visible again after releasing the clipping mask.\" width=\"642\" height=\"496\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">With the clipping mask released, the image returns.<\/div>\n<h3>Adding Content To The Clipping Mask<\/h3>\n<p>Let's add some content to the bottom layer. Click the top layer's <strong>visibility icon<\/strong> to  hide the image so we can see what we're doing:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/layer-visibility-icon-photoshop.png\" alt=\"Hiding the image on the top layer before adding content to the layer below\" width=\"303\" height=\"215\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Clicking the top layer's visibility icon.<\/div>\n<p>Then click on the bottom layer to make it active:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/select-bottom-layer-photoshop.png\" alt=\"Selecting the bottom layer to add content\" width=\"287\" height=\"216\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Selecting the bottom layer.<\/div>\n<p>To add content, we'll draw a simple shape. Select the <a href=\"\/basics\/selections\/elliptical-marquee-tool\/\" title=\"View tutorial\">Elliptical Marquee Tool<\/a> from the <a href=\"\/basics\/photoshop-tools-toolbar-overview\/\" title=\"Learn more\">Toolbar<\/a> by <strong>right-clicking<\/strong> (Win) \/ <strong>Control-clicking<\/strong> (Mac) on the Rectangular Marquee Tool and choosing the Elliptical Marquee Tool from the fly-out menu:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/select-elliptical-marquee-tool-photoshop.png\" alt=\"Selecting the Elliptical Marquee Tool from the Toolbar in Photoshop\" width=\"292\" height=\"172\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Selecting the Elliptical Marquee Tool.<\/div>\n<p>Click and drag out an elliptical selection outline in the center of the document:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/draw-elliptical-selection-photoshop.png\" alt=\"Drawing an elliptical selection outline on the bottom layer\" width=\"644\" height=\"496\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Drawing a selection with the Elliptical Marquee Tool.<\/div>\n<p>Go up to the <strong>Edit<\/strong> menu in the Menu Bar and choose <strong>Fill<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/photoshop-fill-command.png\" alt=\"Choosing the Fill command from the Edit menu in Photoshop. \" width=\"257\" height=\"148\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Going to Edit &gt; Fill.<\/div>\n<p>In the Fill dialog box, set the <strong>Contents<\/strong> option to <strong>black<\/strong>, and then click OK:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/photoshop-fill-dialog-box.png\" alt=\"Choosing Black in the Fill dialog box in Photoshop\" width=\"362\" height=\"203\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">The Fill dialog box.<\/div>\n<p>Photoshop fills the selection with black. To remove the selection outline from around the shape, go up to the <strong>Select<\/strong> menu and choose <strong>Deselect<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/photoshop-deselect-command.png\" alt=\"Choosing the Deselect command in Photoshop\" width=\"221\" height=\"142\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Going to Select &gt; Deselect.<\/div>\n<p>And now, instead of a completely transparent layer, we have an area with some content in the center. Notice, though, that the area surrounding the content remains transparent:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/selection-filled-with-black.png\" alt=\"The clipping mask layer now contains both content and transparency\" width=\"642\" height=\"496\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">The bottom layer now contains both content and transparency.<\/div>\n<p>Back in the Layers panel, the <strong>preview thumbnail<\/strong> for the bottom layer now shows the black shape. What's important to note here is that if you compare the preview thumbnails for both layers, you'll see that some of the image on the top layer is sitting directly above the  content (the shape) on the bottom layer. And, some of the photo is sitting above the transparent areas on the bottom layer:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/mask-layer-preview-thumbnail-photoshop.png\" alt=\"The Layers panel showing the content and transparency on the bottom layer\" width=\"287\" height=\"215\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">The preview thumbnail showing the content and transparency on the bottom layer.<\/div>\n<h3>Creating Another Clipping Mask<\/h3>\n<p>Now that we've added some content to the bottom layer, let's create another clipping mask. Again, we first need to select the layer that will be clipped to the layer below, so click on the top layer to select it. Then, click the top layer's <strong>visibility icon<\/strong> to make the image on the layer visible:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/select-make-visible-top-layer-photoshop.png\" alt=\"Selecting and turning on the layer that will be clipped by the mask\" width=\"304\" height=\"215\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Selecting and turning on the layer that will be clipped.<\/div>\n<p>Go back up to the <strong>Layer<\/strong> menu and once again choose <strong>Create Clipping Mask<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/photoshop-create-clipping-mask-command.png\" alt=\"Selecting the Create Clipping Mask command from the Layer menu in Photoshop\" width=\"239\" height=\"141\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Go again to Layer &gt; Create Clipping Mask.<\/div>\n<p>In the Layers panel, we see the top layer clipped to the layer below it, just like we saw last time:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/layers-panel-clipping-mask-photoshop.png\" alt=\"The Layers panel showing the top layer clipped to the bottom layer after creating the clipping mask\" width=\"287\" height=\"216\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">The Layers panel again showing the clipping mask.<\/div>\n<p>But in the document, we now see a very different result. This time, the section of the photo that's sitting directly above the shape on the layer below it remains visible! The only parts of the photo that are hidden are the areas surrounding the shape, since those areas are still sitting above transparency:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/photoshop-clipping-mask-created.jpg\" alt=\"Photoshop clipping mask after adding content to the mask layer\" width=\"642\" height=\"496\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">The content on the bottom layer keeps part of the top layer visible.<\/div>\n<h3>Moving Content Within A Clipping Mask<\/h3>\n<p>Of course, the result might look better if  our subject was centered inside the shape. With clipping masks, it's easy to move and reposition content within them. Just select the <strong>Move Tool<\/strong> from the Toolbar:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/select-move-tool-photoshop.png\" alt=\"Selecting the Move Tool in Photoshop. \" width=\"78\" height=\"172\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Selecting the Move Tool.<\/div>\n<p>Then click on the photo and drag it into position. As you move the image, only the area that moves over the shape on the layer below it remains visible. And that's the basics of how clipping masks work:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/how-to-create-clipping-masks-photoshop.jpg\" alt=\"How to create a clipping mask in Photoshop tutorial\" width=\"642\" height=\"496\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">The clipping mask after centering the photo within the shape.<\/div>\n<aside><p class=\"members-ad-top\"><a href=\"\/print-ready-pdfs\/\">Download all of our Photoshop tutorials as PDFs!<\/a><\/p><\/aside>\n<h2 class=\"sub\">When To Use A Clipping Mask<\/h2>\n<p>While layer masks are best for blending layers with seamless transitions, clipping masks in Photoshop are perfect when your image needs to fit within a clearly-defined shape. The shape may be one you've drawn with a <a href=\"\/basics\/make-selections-photoshop\/\" title=\"Learn more\">selection tool<\/a> as we've seen. But a clipping mask can also be used to <a href=\"\/photo-effects\/place-image-inside-shape-photoshop\/\" title=\"View tutorial\">fill a vector shape with an image<\/a>, or to <a href=\"\/photoshop-text\/text-effects\/image-in-text-photoshop-cs6\/\" title=\"View tutorial\">place an image inside text<\/a>. As another example of what we can do with clipping masks, let's quickly look at how a clipping mask can be used to place a photo inside a frame. <\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n.ads-middle { display: inline-block; width:300px; margin:6px 0px 24px 0px; padding-top: 16px; padding-bottom: 16px; }\n@media (max-width: 515px) { .ads-middle { margin:20px 0; } }\n@media (max-width: 480px) { .ads-middle { margin:20px 0; } }\n<\/style><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-6601556224092982\"\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\n<!-- photo effects 300x250 middle responsive -->\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle ads-middle\"\n     style=\"display:block\"\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-6601556224092982\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"4216941496\"\n     data-ad-format=\"rectangle\"\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script>\n<h3>Placing A Photo In A Frame With Clipping Masks<\/h3>\n<p>Here I have a document containing two images, each on a separate layer. The <a href=\"https:\/\/prf.hn\/l\/5N3YMRl\" title=\"View image on Adobe Stock\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">photo<\/a> on the bottom layer contains the frame:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/photo-frame.jpg\" alt=\"An image of a photo frame.\" width=\"704\" height=\"475\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">The image on the bottom layer. Photo credit: Adobe Stock.<\/div>\n<p>And if I turn the top layer on by clicking its visibility icon:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/photo-layer-visibility-icon.png\" alt=\"Clicking the visibility icon to show the top layer in the Layers panel\" width=\"303\" height=\"203\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Turning on the top layer.<\/div>\n<p>We see the <a href=\"https:\/\/prf.hn\/l\/ERLleyQ\" title=\"View image on Adobe Stock\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">photo<\/a> I want to place inside the frame:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/image-into-frame.jpg\" alt=\"The image that will be placed inside the frame using a clipping mask\" width=\"704\" height=\"475\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">The image on the top layer. Photo credit: Adobe Stock.<\/div>\n<p>I'll hide the top layer for the moment by once again clicking its visibility icon, and then I'll click on the Background layer to select it:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/hide-top-layer-select-background-layer.png\" alt=\"Hiding the top layer and selecting the bottom layer in Photoshop\" width=\"303\" height=\"203\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Hiding the top layer and selecting the bottom layer.<\/div>\n<h4>Drawing Or Selecting The Shape<\/h4>\n<p>I mentioned that clipping masks work best when your image needs to fit within a shape. In this case, the shape is the area inside the frame. Since the area is filled with solid black, I'll select it using Photoshop's <a href=\"\/basics\/selections\/magic-wand-tool\/\" title=\"View tutorial\">Magic Wand Tool<\/a>:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/select-magic-wand-tool-photoshop.png\" alt=\"Selecting the Magic Wand Tool from the Toolbar in Photoshop\" width=\"239\" height=\"145\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Selecting the Magic Wand Tool from the Toolbar.<\/div>\n<p>I'll click with the Magic Wand Tool inside the frame, and now the area is selected:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/select-inside-frame.jpg\" alt=\"Selecting the area that will be used for the clipping mask\" width=\"704\" height=\"475\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Selecting the area that will be used for the clipping mask.<\/div>\n<p>Then, I'll copy the selected area to a new layer by going up to the <strong>Layer<\/strong> menu in the Menu Bar, choosing <strong>New<\/strong>, and then choosing <strong>Layer via Copy<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/photoshop-new-layer-via-copy.png\" alt=\"The New Layer via Copy command in Photoshop.\" width=\"215\" height=\"119\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Going to Layer &gt; New &gt; Layer via Copy.<\/div>\n<p>Photoshop  copies my selection to a new layer between the Background layer and the photo I'll be placing inside the frame. I now have the shape I need to create my clipping mask:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/selection-copied-to-new-layer.png\" alt=\"The shape of the area inside the frame has been copied to a new layer\" width=\"287\" height=\"237\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">The area inside the frame appears on its own layer.<\/div>\n<h4>A Faster Way To Create A Clipping Mask<\/h4>\n<p>To create the clipping mask, I'll select the top layer,  and I'll turn the layer back on by clicking its visibility icon:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/select-turn-on-top-layer.png\" alt=\"Selecting and turning on the top layer in the Layers panel\" width=\"303\" height=\"266\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Selecting and turning on the top layer.<\/div>\n<p>We've seen that we can create a clipping mask by  choosing Create Clipping Mask from the Layer menu. But a faster way is to press and hold the <strong>Alt<\/strong> (Win) \/ <strong>Option<\/strong> (Mac) key on your keyboard as you hover your mouse cursor between the two layers. Your cursor will change into a <strong>clipping mask icon<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/photoshop-clipping-mask-icon.png\" alt=\"Creating a clipping mask in Photoshop\" width=\"287\" height=\"226\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">The clipping mask icon appears.<\/div>\n<p>Click on the dividing line between the two layers to create the clipping mask:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/photoshop-clipping-mask-added.png\" alt=\"The clipping mask has been created from the two layers\" width=\"287\" height=\"225\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">The image is now clipped to &quot;Layer 1&quot; below it.<\/div>\n<p>With the clipping mask created, the photo now appears only inside the frame, since that's the only part of the image that's sitting above actual content on the layer below it. The rest of the photo is hidden because it's sitting above transparency:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/photo-clipped-to-frame.jpg\" alt=\"The clipping mask places the photo in the frame.\" width=\"704\" height=\"475\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">The photo is now clipped inside the frame thanks to the clipping mask.<\/div>\n<h4>Resizing Content Within A Clipping Mask<\/h4>\n<p>Finally, we've seen that we can move content around inside a clipping mask using the Move Tool. But we can also resize content within a clipping mask just as easily using Photoshop's <a href=\"\/basics\/photoshops-free-transform-essentials\/\" title=\"View tutorial\">Free Transform<\/a> command. At the moment, my photo is too big for the frame, so I'll resize it by going up to the <strong>Edit<\/strong> menu and choosing <strong>Free Transform<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/choose-free-transform-photoshop.png\" alt=\"Selecting the Free Transform command in Photoshop\" width=\"256\" height=\"151\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Going to Edit &gt; Free Transform.<\/div>\n<p>Photoshop places the Free Transform box and handles around the image, including the area outside the frame that's currently hidden by the clipping mask:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/photoshop-free-transform-handles.jpg\" alt=\"The Free Transform handles appear around the areas of the image hidden by the clipping mask\" width=\"704\" height=\"479\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">The Free Transform handles appear around the entire image, including the hidden areas.<\/div>\n<p>To resize it, I'll press and hold my <strong>Shift<\/strong> key as I click on the <strong>corner handles<\/strong> and drag them inward. Holding the Shift key locks the aspect ratio of the image so I don't distort it:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/resize-clipping-mask-content.jpg\" alt=\"Resizing the photo inside a clipping mask in Photoshop using Free Transform\" width=\"702\" height=\"473\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Resizing the photo inside the clipping mask.<\/div>\n<p>To accept it, I'll press <strong>Enter<\/strong> (Win) \/ <strong>Return<\/strong> (Mac) on my keyboard to close out of Free Transform. And now, thanks to the power of clipping masks, the photo fits nicely within the frame:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/basics\/cc\/clipping-masks\/clipping-mask-photo-frame-photoshop.jpg\" alt=\"Photoshop clipping mask tutorial effect\" width=\"704\" height=\"475\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">The final clipping mask result.<\/div>\n<p>And there we have it! That's how clipping masks work in Photoshop and how to use a clipping mask to show and hide different parts of a layer!<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n.ads-bottom { width:300px; padding-top:16px;padding-bottom:16px; }\n<\/style><div align=\"center\"><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-6601556224092982\"\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\n<!-- 300x250 page bottom responsive -->\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle ads-bottom\"\n     style=\"display:block\"\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-6601556224092982\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"2879809098\"\n     data-ad-format=\"rectangle\"\n\t data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script>\n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/div>\n<p>Visit our <a href=\"\/basics\/\">Photoshop Basics<\/a> section for more Photoshop tutorials!<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"members-ad\"><a href=\"\/print-ready-pdfs\/\">Get all of our Photoshop tutorials as PDFs!<\/a> Download them today!<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn how to use clipping masks in Photoshop! This step-by-step guide teaches you all about clipping masks, including how a clipping mask works, how to create clipping masks, and how to use them to control a layer&#8217;s visibility and fit images into shapes!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22300,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2803","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basics"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Clipping Masks In Photoshop - Photoshop Essentials<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn all about clipping masks in Photoshop with our step-by-step guide. You&#039;ll learn what clipping masks are and how they work, how to create a clipping mask in Photoshop, and how to use a clipping mask to hide different parts of a layer and fit images into shapes!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.photoshopessentials.com\/newsite\/basics\/clipping-masks-essentials\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How To Use Clipping Masks In Photoshop\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn how to create and use clipping masks in Photoshop to hide parts of a layer and fit your images into shapes!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.photoshopessentials.com\/newsite\/basics\/clipping-masks-essentials\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Photoshop Essentials\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/photoess\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-01-07T05:01:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-11-05T13:51:48+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.photoshopessentials.com\/newsite\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/how-to-use-clipping-masks-photoshop-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Steve Patterson\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Steve Patterson\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"21 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.photoshopessentials.com\\\/newsite\\\/basics\\\/clipping-masks-essentials\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.photoshopessentials.com\\\/newsite\\\/basics\\\/clipping-masks-essentials\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Steve Patterson\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.photoshopessentials.com\\\/newsite\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/338424c7775908e1c0a190d02a6564f2\"},\"headline\":\"Clipping Masks in Photoshop\",\"datePublished\":\"2018-01-07T05:01:12+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-11-05T13:51:48+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.photoshopessentials.com\\\/newsite\\\/basics\\\/clipping-masks-essentials\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":2519,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.photoshopessentials.com\\\/newsite\\\/basics\\\/clipping-masks-essentials\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.photoshopessentials.com\\\/newsite\\\/newsite\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/01\\\/how-to-use-clipping-masks-photoshop-f.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Photoshop Basics\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.photoshopessentials.com\\\/newsite\\\/basics\\\/clipping-masks-essentials\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.photoshopessentials.com\\\/newsite\\\/basics\\\/clipping-masks-essentials\\\/\",\"name\":\"Clipping Masks In Photoshop - Photoshop Essentials\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.photoshopessentials.com\\\/newsite\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.photoshopessentials.com\\\/newsite\\\/basics\\\/clipping-masks-essentials\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.photoshopessentials.com\\\/newsite\\\/basics\\\/clipping-masks-essentials\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.photoshopessentials.com\\\/newsite\\\/newsite\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/01\\\/how-to-use-clipping-masks-photoshop-f.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2018-01-07T05:01:12+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-11-05T13:51:48+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.photoshopessentials.com\\\/newsite\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/338424c7775908e1c0a190d02a6564f2\"},\"description\":\"Learn all about clipping masks in Photoshop with our step-by-step guide. 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