How To Use the Clipping Mask (in Photoshop)

Ever wonder how people get their pictures to be in the shape of letters, or a perfect circle, or a cool shape? Well, this tutorial is for you! Clipping Masks are probably one of the TOP things I LOVE about digital scrapbooking... and probably one of the EASIEST to do!!!! Today we will be using a clipping mask that is in the shape of a bar code. So fun!!! Here is what our finished picture will look like on a layout:

**This layout has been made into a Quick Page version as well!! It (along with a free word art) is FREE with your purchase of the B-Side Collaboration kit by Paislee Press + TaylorMade Designs until April 15, 2008! Grab your Quick Page HERE! For instructions on how to use Quick Pages, refer to the TUTORIALS section of this blog and click on 'Using Quick Pages'.

Ok... back to Clipping Masks!! :)

1.) Open a new document by choosing "File" and then "New". (**Note: Ctrl+N is the shortcut for this.)



2.) Open the clipping mask of your choice, making sure you can see both your blank document and the clipping mask, as shown below:



3.) Choose your "Move" tool from the tools menu. (**Note: clicking the letter "V" on your keyboard will also activate this tool.)

4.) Now, drag your clipping mask over onto your blank document.


5.) Now, decide on your picture and repeat steps 2, 3, and 4. Your document should look something like this. (**Note: make sure your photo layer is on top of your clipping mask layer as the red arrows indicate.)

6.) Now, move your cursor over to your layers palette and place it right in between your photo layer and your clipping mask layer and hold down your ALT key. (**NOTE: Your cursor should change in shape and appear as shown here:)






7.) Now simply click and your photo will attach itself to your clipping mask and transform itself into it's shape. (**Note: "CTRL+SHIFT+G" in CS2 & 3 or"CTRL+G" in Photoshop Elements will also clip your photo to your clipping mask. Just be sure your photo layer is active.) Your photo layer will now be indented a bit with a little arrow that shows it's connected to your clipping mask layer.

8.) Now, if you'll notice, there is still a "bounding box" around your photo, even though the only part of it that is visible is the part showing throgh the clipping mask. This is so you can tell where your photo is to move it around within your clipping mask so that you can place it where you want it. You can also choose your "Move" tool and grab one of the corners to resize your photo if needed. (**NOTE: Be SURE to hold down your SHIFT key while resizing your photo so that it maintains its proper proportions.)

9.) Last step... go to your layers palette and click on your photo layer. While holding down your CTRL key, also click on your clipping mask layer. This allows you to choose both layers at the same time. Now, you can click on the little chain-link icon to lock your layers together so that when you try and move them, they will be connected and always move together.

Now you have your photo in the shape of your bar code and all you have left to do is find your favorite paper and flourishes, type your text and title and you've got a very unique way to display your photo on a scrapbook page! Good luck and have fun!!!

**If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me (Amanda) at taylormade8330@yahoo.com. Thanks!!!

**CREDITS for layout**

Paper, scroll stamp (in corners), and bar code clipping mask are all from The B-Side Collab kit by Paislee Press and TaylorMade Designs (available at Oscraps.com)

Fonts used: Impact, Perpetua, Century Gothic, Embossing Tape