Photoshop

Mask layers with clipping masks

A clipping mask lets you use the content of a layer to mask the layers above it. The masking is determined by the content of the bottom or base layer. The non-transparent content of the base layer clips (reveals), the content of the layers above it in the clipping mask. All other content in the clipped layers is masked out.

Clipping mask: content of the clipped layer (Potatoes) is only visible within the content of the base layer (Logo)

You can use multiple layers in a clipping mask, but they must be successive layers. The name of the base layer in the mask is underlined, and the thumbnails for the overlying layers are indented. The overlying layers display a clipping mask icon .

The Blend Clipped Layers As Group option in the Layer Style dialog box determines whether the blending mode of the base affects the whole group or just the base. (See Group blend effects.)

Create a clipping mask

  1. Arrange the layers in the Layers palette so that the base layer with the mask is below the layers that you want to mask.
  2. Do one of the following:

    • Hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS), position the pointer over the line in the Layers palette dividing the base layer and the first layer above it that you want to include in the clipping mask (the pointer changes to two overlapping circles ), and click.

    • Select the first layer above the base layer in the Layers palette, and choose Layer > Create Clipping Mask.

  3. To add additional layers to the clipping mask, use either method in step 2, and work your way upward one level at a time in the Layers palette.
    Note: If you create a new layer between layers in a clipping mask, or drag an unclipped layer between layers in a clipping mask, the layer becomes part of the clipping mask.

    Layers in the clipping mask are assigned the opacity and mode attributes of the base layer.

Remove a layer from a clipping mask

 Do one of the following:

  • Hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS), position the pointer over the line separating two grouped layers in the Layers palette (the pointer changes to two overlapping circles ), and click.

  • In the Layers palette, select a layer in the clipping mask, and choose Layer > Release Clipping Mask. This command removes the selected layer and any layers above it from the clipping mask.

Release all layers in a clipping mask

  1. In the Layers palette, select the base layer in the clipping mask.
  2. Choose Layer > Release Clipping Mask.