What is Clipping Mask in Photoshop?

If you want to learn what Clipping Mask in Photoshop is, you have come to the right place. In this tutorial, we are going to look at both the Image Mask and Clipping Mask, and compare both.

Sometimes you need to merge multiple images in Photoshop. You might need to do that for posters, pamphlets, and photo-editing. Clipping Masks and Image Masks can help you do that. You can make interesting frames for images, nice typography, or custom image layouts.

After following the step-by-step guides in this article, you will be able to create Clipping Masks in Photoshop very easily!

What is Image Masking?

Image masking allows you to hide portions of the image and reveal the portions underneath. This is a useful feature to learn if you want to learn image editing. Image masking lets you create some unique designs in Photoshop and there are different ways to do so.

Image editing takes some time to learn, but techniques such as image masking can make things easier for you. There are three main types of image masking;

• Layer mask
• Alpha Channel mask
• Clipping mask

These masks all work in different ways. Let us take a look at each one of them in detail:

Layer Mask:

The first type of Image Masking is Layer Masking. This can remove portions from the image background. And you can use it in posters and pamphlets.

Alpha Channel Mask:

Alpha Channel mask is a little harder but it can also help you create some unique designs. It can add an extra channel over the image.

Clipping Mask:

The Clipping Mask can let you select a part of an image and use it any way you want. Next, we are going to look at the clipping masks in detail.

What is Clipping Mask?

A clipping mask is an interesting feature in Photoshop cc. It is built from a group of layers, to which a mask has applied. This works the same way as cutting out shapes in one piece of paper and pasting this paper over an image to create a frame.

You need at least two layers to create a clipping mask in Photoshop. You can also use the image of your choice. The Image is placed at the bottom layer, and then the topmost layer is converted into a clipping mask.

You can add patterns or shapes of your choice and it can create a beautiful effect that you can use to create image frames or in graphic designing. You can also add multiple layers and create beautiful designs in Photoshop.

Comparison: Clipping Mask vs Image Masking

Most people confuse the Clipping Mask with the Image Mask in Photoshop. But, the truth is they both mean slightly different things.

In short, image masking is a broader term that covers different masking techniques. A clipping mask is one of the many techniques that fall under the umbrella of image masking.

Here are the major difference between clipping mask and image masking:

• Image Masking includes Layer Mask, Alpha Channel Mask, and Clipping Mask. Meanwhile, Clipping Mask is a single technique for clipping out portions of an image.
• You always need to create a Clipping Mask over the topmost layer. If you want to take out portions of the image you can create a Clipping Mask over it after selecting the portion.
• You can also create an Image Mask for more than one image but it is important that all the images that you want to use in a Clipping Mask are in the same layer or the same group of layers.
• The processes of creating Layer Mask, Alpha Channel Mask, and Clipping Mask are all different and some techniques take longer than others.
• The results produced by Image Mask are also extremely different. You can use the three kinds of masks for different things.

If you are still confused about what a Clipping Mask is, and how it works, you can check out our guide below to find out how you can create a Clipping Mask in Photoshop.

Guide to Create Clipping Mask

Clipping Mask can come in quite handy if you are looking for ways to create beautiful designs. Let’s take a look at how you can make clipping masks in Photoshop.

Step-1: Open the Image

The first step is to open the image in Photoshop. Go to File-> Open and browse the image you want to use.

You will use this image as the basic layer to create the Clipping Mask. You can use a photograph, a landscape, or any pattern that you want.

This original layer is locked by default, but you can unlock it by clicking on the lock sign in the layer panel. This image layer will be converted into Layer 0. Now you can make changes to this image.

Step-2: Create a New Layer

Now, create a new layer in Photoshop. In the Layers panel, click on the New Layer icon on the bottom. This will create a new layer in which we are going to create our Clipping Mask. Place this layer above the image layer 0.

Step-3: Make a Selection

Now you need to select a portion of an image. You can use any of the selection tools from your left-hand side. Photoshop comes with a variety of selection tools that you can find in the toolbar.

We will use something as simple as the elliptical marquee tool. Make a selection on the topmost layer, directly above the image. This selection will include the portion that you want to see inside your frame.

Step-4: Fill the Selection

You can turn off the visibility of Layer 0, so you can see only your selection on the transparent Layer 1. We will now fill this selection to see it more clearly. You can pick any color or pattern to fill it.

Go to Edit->Fill. Pick the color of your choice.

You will now be able to see colored selection on your screen. Don’t worry this color will soon disappear and you would be able to see your image through the clipping mask.

Step-5: Deselect

Once you have filled the selection, you can now deselect the selected region. The filled portion will act as your guide to creating a clipping mask and you no longer need the selection.

Go to Select->Deselect or press Ctrl+D

Step-6: Create a Clipping Mask

The last and most important step is to create a Clipping Mask with the image layer and the layer with the selection. Now that you have created the layers, this step is pretty easy.

First, turn on the visibility of the layer with the image. Move the Layer 1 below to Layer 0. You will now be able to clearly see the image.

With Layer 1 selected in the Layers panel, right-click on it to open the menu. Find the option that says “Create a Clipping Mask”.

You can also use the shortcut key “ALT+CTRL+G”. Make sure you have the layer with the image selected in the Layers Panel before creating a Clipping Mask.

This will completely change how your image appears in the window. The portion that you selected earlier will now be converted into a frame.

Step-7: Add another Layer

The last step to converting your image into a clipping mask is to add another layer and move it at the bottom of the Layers Panel. This will act as the background of your frame. You can use another image.

With Layer 2 selected, go to File->Place. Browse the image that you want to use as background and place it in Layer 2. Resize the image to fit the layer.

Step-8: Finalize

If you are not satisfied with how your final product looks, you can always move the image around until you are satisfied. You can also crop the image. Once you are done, you can use the final result on any site or in graphics. This can make your site and designs look trendy and beautiful. You can even get it printed and framed.

That’s it. As you can see, the Clipping Mask is not very hard to make. It takes a little practice but you can use the Clipping Mask in graphic designing and impress everyone with your skills.

With the Clipping Mask, you can make some really cool designs. You can also use any of the shapes given in Photoshop to create a Clipping Mask instead of the Selection Tools. This can be helpful especially if you are making something like a scrapbook.

Another fun thing you can do with the Clipping Mask is to create a topography design. Put the image in the background layer, add Text layer over it and click on “Create a Clipping Mask” with the background layer selected. You can use it in posters and web designs.

Final Verdict

Image Masking includes several different techniques for creating beautiful designs in Photoshop. Clipping Mask is one of these techniques that fall under Image Mask. It can be used to create image layouts, topography, frames, and posters.

The Image Mask in Photoshop is a useful feature. This content was designed to aid you to learn how to create Image Masks especially Clipping Masks in Photoshop. And you can use Clipping Mask anywhere you want in Photoshop.

All you need to do is keep practicing. Once you become an expert, you can use the Clipping Mask in your designs.

What is Clipping Path in Photoshop?