D I G I TA L I M A G I N G I UNIT 4
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Practice: Creating Clipping Masks
PRACTICE SKILLS:
• Create shape clipping masks.
• Increase Canvas size.
• Create text clipping masks.
INTRODUCTION:
When the content of a layer acts as a mask to the layer
above, it is called a Clipping Mask (sometimes referred to
as Clipping Groups). The content area of the base (lower)
layer, masks the content of the layer above it. This is another
way to hide or show content without being destructive as it
does not affect the image pixels and it can easily be undone.
When finished, the image of will look as if you had matted
and framed a photo and hung it on a wall.
FINISHED EXAMPLE ▸
RESOURCE FILES:
Copy the following images: Picture Frame and Ursula located in the
ClassFiles > D_Img_1 > Unit 4 folder or download from Unit 4 in
Blackboard. Place files in your Class folder > YOUR PREFIX_Daily Work
> Unit 4. Rename and save each image with YOUR PREFIX_U4_Picture
Frame.psd and YOUR PREFIX_U4 _Ursula.psd.
PROCEDURE:
Version 1: Clipping Mask with Shapes
01. Reset the Preferences to the default as you open Photoshop by presing
the ­Cmd + Shift + Opt (Mac OS) or Ctrl + Shift + Alt (Windows).
02. Open the YOUR PREFIX_U4_Picture Frame.psd. Save As this image
replacing the words Picture Frame with ClippingMask for the file
name.
03. Turn on Rulers by pressing Cmd + R (Mac OS) or Ctrl + R (Windows).
Click on the horizontal (top) Ruler. Hold down the mouse and drag a
guideline down to the 2 inch mark on the vertical Ruler. Click on the
vertical (left) Ruler and drag a guideline to the 2 1/4 inch mark on the
horizontal Ruler. The center point of the file is at this intersection.
Guidelines: If you want to adjust the
guidelines, select the Move tool and hover
over the line. When you see a bar appear, click
and drag the guideline to another position.
04. Turn off View > Snap. Uncheck it.
05. Add a new layer by selecting the Paper icon at the bottom of the
layers panel or ­by pressing Cmd + Shift + N (Mac OS) or Ctrl + Shift +
N (Windows).
06. Name this layer Rectangle Mask.
07. From the Toolbar, choose the Rectangle Marquee Tool.
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D I G I TA L I M A G I N G I UNIT 4
08. On the new blank layer, draw a rectangle shape from the
center (intersection of the guides) on the Picture Frame
layer as follows: Click at the cross point, hold down the
Opt key (Mac OS) or Alt key (Windows), then click and
drag out the selection that fits the inside of the Picture
Frame and the beveled mat. Continue holding down
the Opt key (Mac OS) or Alt key (Windows). Without
releasing the mouse button, hold down the space bar to
move the rectangle shape until it is in position. Release the
mouse button, then let go of the keys last to keep the rectangle shape
in position. While the selection is active, save it. Choose menu Select >
Save selection. Name it Rectangle.
09. With the rectangle selection still active, choose the Rectangle Mask
layer. Then choose Edit > Fill > Foreground color to fill the rectangle
shape with a color. The color should fill the opening of the Picture
Frame. Deselect the active selection by pressing the Cmd + D (Mac OS)
or Ctrl + D (Windows).
10. With both Ursula and Picture Frame files open you can only see one at
a time. To view both side by side, from the Menu Bar select Arrange >
2 Up Vertical.
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Saving Selection: By saving this selection
you can reload it without having to make
the selection over again. Go to Select >
Load selection. The selection is saved in the
Channels panel. Open that panel and you can
see the saved selection as a black/white mask.
Clipping Mask: A clipping mask may
also be made by moving the mouse
pointer between the Ursula Layer and
Rectangle Mask layer, and when the
icon changes to a double circle, click.
11. Now they are side by side. With the Move Tool, drag Ursula over to the
Picture Frame window, it will add a new layer to the Picture Frame
file. Name the layer Ursula.
12. With the Ursula layer selected choose Layer > Create Clipping Mask.
The Ursula image appears in the Rectangle Mask. It is clipped to this
layer. Or to clip the upped layer into the shape below by pressing Cmd
+ Opt + G (Mac OS) or Ctrl + Alt + G (Windows).
13. Select the Move tool to drag the Ursula layer to show the desired part
of the image in the Picture Frame window.
14. With the Ursula layer selected, select Levels Adjustment Layer from
the Black/White Circle icon at the bottom of the layers panel.
Move the left slider slightly to the right to about 15 to clip the shadows
and create more contrast in the image Ursula. Consider moving the
right slider to the left to about 212 to clip the highlights of the image.
15. With the new Adjustment Layer selected, choose Layer > Create
Clipping Mask. The Levels Adjustment Layer is clipped to the Ursula
layer. The tonal adjustment affects only the Ursula layer and none of
the other layers.
16. Double click on the Levels icon on the adjustment layer to reopen it
and make further adjustments as necessary.
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17. Select the black Rectangle Mask layer to add effects as follows. Select
the Layer styles fx icon at the bottom of the layers panel. Choose
Inner Shadow. Change the Distance to approximately 2 px and Size to
about 2 px. Make your own adjustments. This adds a shadow to Ursula
in such a way it appears the Picture Frames beveled mat is casting a
shadow. Thus adding depth to the composition.
18. Save the YOUR PREFIX_ClippingMask.psd in your Unit 4 folder.
Continue with the same file.
Version 2: Clipping Mask using Letters.
01. With the top layer selected, zoom in on the Name Plate at the bottom
of the Picture Frame. Choose the Type tool. Set the font family name
to Minion Pro. Set the font style to Bold Italic. Set the font size to 15 pt.
The color does not matter. Place your curser on the vertical guide in
the center of the Name Plate. Center the type by pressing Cmd + Shift
+ C (Mac OS) or Ctrl + Shift + C (Windows). Type Ursula. Click check
Mark to accept.
02. Select the Move tool to adjust the word so it is centered in the Name
Plate. See the finished example on page 1 of this practice.
03. Select the Picture Frame layer and duplicate it by pressing Cmd + J
(Mac OS) or Ctrl + J (Windows). Change the name of this layer to Type
Clipping Mask.
04. Drag the copy up above the type layer. It will cover up the type layer.
05. With the Type Clipping Mask layer selected, choose Layer > Create
Clipping Mask. Or use the short cut by pressing Opt (Mac OS) or Alt
(Windows) and click between the two layers.
06. Select the Ursula type layer. Add a layer style by selecting the fx icon at the bottom of the Layers menu, choose the Bevel and Emboss
style. In the Layer Style dialog, leave the Style and Technique at the
default settings. Change the Direction by clicking on the Down button.
Make adjustments to the Size and Soften as you wish. Likewise, make
adjustments to the Altitude, Gloss Contour, Highlight Mode, and
Shadow Mode. Or follow the example at the right. Be sure to check the
Preview option in the Layer Style dialog to observe the adjustments
before clicking OK.
07. Save the file by pressing Cmd + S (Mac OS) or Ctrl + S (Windows) for
grading. There is no need to rename this file if it was named correctly
at the end of Version 1.
Lab Submission: Submit files to instructor as directed and get graded for
completed work.
Online students: Upload the final PSD to the Blackboard submission link as
directed by your instructor for grading. It is recommended that this
file be put in a folder with other Unit 4 files to be compressed (zipped)
for a single upload.
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