Tutorial How to Create a Clipping Mask in Photoshop

[Klim]

Why do I need a clipping mask?

• To make a design much cleaner and less work for the designer - You don't have to replicate edges of the template, go way over them, it doesn't matter
• Handy for sashes, stripes, hoops, larger logos and designs

1. Always set your layers out - this is important as it can get messy. Always name your layers so that you know what is going on at all times, this is essential because it can get confusing. So you have the template of your choice ready. I've decided to use the Prison Bars on the Port jumper for this tutorial. I want the Prison Bars to be restricted to the boundary of the template, how do I do that? Very good question - this is how.

2. Go into your layers and select the base of the jumper. Click Ctrl + J to duplicate the base layer.

3. Take the copied base and drag it to the Prison Bars group. Make sure the base is under the main design.

4. Now duplicate the base that is under the prison bar.

5. Now hold the Ctrl button and select the Prison Bars and the 2nd duplicated base.

6. Now while both layers selected right-click and select the create the clipping mask button.

7. Now it should look something like this. Don't worry if you see this. Just expand the Base copy layer and turn off colour overlay and/or the stroke.

8. Congratulations, you have now learnt how to make a clipping mask in Photoshop.

I hope this is helpful to many people. If there are any questions or issues, let me know and I'll sort them out ASAP!!

A big thanks to Greater Gattsby for the wording and the layout. Saved me heaps of time mate.

 

[Greater Gattsby]

Why do I need a clipping mask?

• To make a design much cleaner and less work for the designer - You don't have to replicate edges of the template, go way over them, it doesn't matter
• Handy for sashes, stripes, hoops, larger logos and designs

1. Always set your layers out - this is important as it can get messy. Always name your layers so that you know what is going on at all times, this is essential because it can get confusing. So you have the template of your choice ready. I've decided to use the Prison Bars on the Port jumper for this tutorial. I want the Prison Bars to be restricted to the boundary of the template, how do I do that? Very good question - this is how.

2. Go into your layers and select the base of the jumper. Click Ctrl + J to duplicate the base layer.

3. Take the copied base and drag it to the Prison Bars group. Make sure the base is under the main design.

4. Now duplicate the base that is under the prison bar.

5. Now hold the Ctrl button and select the Prison Bars and the 2nd duplicated base.

6. Now while both layers selected right-click and select the create the clipping mask button.

7. Now it should look something like this. Don't worry if you see this. Just expand the Base copy layer and turn off colour overlay and/or the stroke.

8. Congratulations, you have now learnt how to make a clipping mask in Photoshop.

I hope this is helpful to many people. If there are any questions or issues, let me know and I'll sort them out ASAP!!

A big thanks to Greater Gattsby for the wording and the layout. Saved me heaps of time mate.

Top work Klim, this is great stuff

 

[Fizzler]

Why do I need a clipping mask?

• To make a design much cleaner and less work for the designer - You don't have to replicate edges of the template, go way over them, it doesn't matter
• Handy for sashes, stripes, hoops, larger logos and designs

1. Always set your layers out - this is important as it can get messy. Always name your layers so that you know what is going on at all times, this is essential because it can get confusing. So you have the template of your choice ready. I've decided to use the Prison Bars on the Port jumper for this tutorial. I want the Prison Bars to be restricted to the boundary of the template, how do I do that? Very good question - this is how.

2. Go into your layers and select the base of the jumper. Click Ctrl + J to duplicate the base layer.

3. Take the copied base and drag it to the Prison Bars group. Make sure the base is under the main design.

4. Now duplicate the base that is under the prison bar.

5. Now hold the Ctrl button and select the Prison Bars and the 2nd duplicated base.

6. Now while both layers selected right-click and select the create the clipping mask button.

7. Now it should look something like this. Don't worry if you see this. Just expand the Base copy layer and turn off colour overlay and/or the stroke.

8. Congratulations, you have now learnt how to make a clipping mask in Photoshop.

I hope this is helpful to many people. If there are any questions or issues, let me know and I'll sort them out ASAP!!

A big thanks to Greater Gattsby for the wording and the layout. Saved me heaps of time mate.

Great work! A lot more complicated than Illustrator but your tutorial is great.

 

[Bryce_Jersey17]

Great work! A lot more complicated than Illustrator but your tutorial is great.

And yet I find clipping masks in Photoshop so much more simpler than Illustrator

 

[cannavo]

Dumbed-down version:
Make sure your design (stripes, sash etc) is on top of the jumper base
Holt the Alt key then click in between the design layer and base layer (A little arrow should appear while holding Alt)

 

[Klim]

How to duplicate without releasing the clipping mask

1. Select your desired layer and make sure you're on the move tool (v).
2. Hold down ALT and press one of the arrow keys once. This will duplicate the layer you want.
3. Lastly, simply move back the object you just duplicated in the opposite direction because you would have moved it one pixel.