In this tutorial, we will learn how to mask a gate in Photoshop. It’s very common for you to ask yourself, “How do I mask an image in Photoshop?” No need to worry we will help you to give maximum support.
First, introduce what a clipping mask is and why it’s important to learn how to apply it to an image. In Photoshop, clipping masks are a way to control the visibility of layers in an image file.
A clipping mask is used to control the visibility of one layer to create the transparency and content of another layer, unlike a layer mask where different parts of black and white layers are hidden and visible.
Creating a clipping mask requires two layers. The bottom layer controls the visibility of the top layer, meaning the bottom layer is treated as a mask and the top layer is the clipped layer of the mask layer.
Although it may seem a bit confusing or complicated, creating a clipping mask in Photoshop is quite simple. The steps below will help you understand and guide you in creating a perfect clipping mask.
Step One: First open Photoshop from your computer
Launch Photoshop and click File > Open > Select Photo from Site > Open.
Step 2: Use pen
Select the Pen tool to create a clipping path from the main toolbar, usually on the left side of your screen, as shown in the image below.
Step 3: Create new path
Before using the pen tool, select a new path as shown in the image below.
Step 4: Create a clipping path service
In the image, start creating a clipping path around the main subject and draw the path line very precisely and carefully.
Step 5: Completed with clipping path
When drawing a clipping path around the product, be more careful with details and edges and corners.
Step 6: Select by click Ctrl + Enter
Use ‘Ctrl + Enter’ to select the clipping path you created.
Step 7: Use the feather option for smoothness
After creating and selecting the clipping path, apply a 0.5 feather to the image by selecting > Modify > Feather or using the keyboard shortcut Shift + F6. This will help you smooth the path you create using the pen tool.
Step 8: Select the 'Layer from Background'
Select the ‘Layer from Background’ and create a new layer as shown in the image below.
Step 9: Click 'Mask' and create your clipping masks
Select the mask option and create a clipping mask for your image. Finally, your clipping masks is done.
Photoshop is a great software that can edit and manipulate your images for better presentation and visualization. Clipping masks will help you work with different backgrounds, allow you to blend your photos with others, and make great edits for your e-commerce products.
Many large e-commerce and online businesses edit their product photographs using Photoshop with various components of Photoshop software. Learning Photoshop skills will help you in many ways to create your product image and stand out and get the attention of buyers to increase your sales.
To get editing your photos immediately, you can use our tutorial. But Photoshop is an advanced software. Therefore, it may take some time to get used to the tools and techniques of the application.
It is advisable to seek professional help if needed, as expertise is the key to success. Proficiency in image editing and post-processing of your product images is essential to keep selling.
How to Use Clipping Masks in Photoshop – A Complete Guide
Clipping masks are one of Photoshop‘s many essential tools that help control where a layer is actually visible. With a clipping mask, you can mask multiple layers together to create any shape. Although it may seem like an uninteresting tool in Photoshop, clipping masks prove to be extremely useful.
In this tutorial, you’ll learn different ways to use clipping masks in Photoshop, a helpful keyboard shortcut, and the important difference between clipping masks and layer masks.
By the end of this post, you’ll be wondering why you didn’t start using clipping masks.
What is a masking service?
A clipping mask joins multiple layers together to create a shared mask based on the shape of the layer below. The bottom layer will define where the clipped layers will be visible, based on that layer’s shape or the layer mask. These types of masks are useful for applying adjustments to a specific layer or changing the shape of an image.
This can be a million-dollar question when you have no idea but trust me and the answer is very simple if answered correctly. First, let’s go over the technical definition of clipping masks. This is a powerful Photoshop technique that can control the visibility of layers. In this tutorial, I will discuss how to mask in Photoshop. I know this is a bit difficult to understand, so let’s simplify this definition with a simple example.
Imagine a solid black paper with a hole right in the center. Now take a hard copy of a picture and place it under the black paper. The black paper will cover the entire image, but the portion of the image below the hole will be visible. Now let’s go a little deeper with an example. Now we will use two different images and place image 2 below image 1.
In between again take a perforated black paper and now place it on top of the two images. We will only see the image through the hole, the rest of the image will not be shown. Instead, we’ll see image 2, and that’s what Photoshop’s masking process does to the image.
Photoshop clipping mask and layer masking processes are different although they can provide similar results. Layer masks work with black and white layers and control the visibility of layers, and clipping masks Photoshop works with content to control them. Enough of sharing the theoretical knowledge because now it’s time to practically create clipping masks.
How to Combine Images in Photoshop with Layer Masks
I know Photoshop can be a little intimidating when you’re starting out, and sometimes the supposedly “helpful” video tutorials go through the steps too quickly.
So we decided to give you both options! This blog explains our videos with step-by-step written instructions.
Since there are so many ways to create text masks in Photoshop, we’ve broken it down so anyone from beginner to advanced can learn how. Some ways to mask editable and full content are discussed for your convenience.
Use images as layer masks in Photoshop
Have you ever wondered how to use an image as a mask in Photoshop but didn’t know how to do it? The solution is actually fairly simple, but Adobe didn’t do you any favors with how obscure it is. With just a few simple steps, you can use any image or graphic to mask specific parts of a layer.
A rather unimaginative and terrifying figure I used my face as a layer mask over Minneapolis
The first thing to consider is that low-contrast images are not going to work well as masks since they will be converted to grayscale when placed on a layer mask. Make sure that the black parts of your image are complete and the whites are filled with your parts.
I like to mess around with it a bit by selecting the layer I want to use as a mask, clicking “Image” on top, then mouse over “Adjustments” and then “Layers”. Ctrl/Cmd + L works as well. I like to drag the whites down a bit and the blacks up a bit, depending on the image, until a good portion of the image is solid black and white. This allows for better masking.
Pace the photo or image as the layer mask on another layer.
1. Select the layer you want to turn into a mask
2. Press Ctrl+a (Mac: Cmd+a) to select the entire image content.
3. Press Ctrl/Cmd + c to copy this content.
4. Create a layer mask on the layer to mask by selecting the layer, and then press the “Add Layer Mask” button at the bottom of the Layers palette.
5. Here’s the magic part. It’s a little trick they won’t teach you in design school. (Disclaimer: I have no idea what they teach you in design school, I’ve never been). To treat a mask almost as if it were its own, normal layer, you just hold down Alt (Option) and click on the layer mask thumbnail. This allows you to view the mask yourself and make changes to it. For some reason it seems the good folks at Adobe don’t want you to use this feature, I’m not sure why.
6. Press Ctrl/Cmd + v to copy the image to the mask. Alternatively, you can press Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+v to copy the image in place, preserving its original location in the document.
7. Hide your image layer with the original image to avoid detection
That’s it! Click on another layer or anywhere else to see what the mask looks like. There are many possibilities with this method, use your imagination!
I have a separate tutorial that shows you how to use a shape as a layer mask.
Step-by-step guide on how to mask in Photoshop
For those who want to gain new Photoshop experience, there is a discussion about how to make a Photoshop tutorial. If you are planning to create some gorgeous typography or any custom layout for your business, then you have come to the right place.
Today we’re going on a journey where we’ll learn how to do clipping masks in Photoshop and create those beautiful custom layouts you’ve always dreamed of.
Before we get into the real action, we’ll do some warm-ups by learning about Photoshop masking services. Most of us still don’t have a clear idea about image masking.
In short, clipping masks cut a specific shape from one image and paste it into another. So in this editorial, I’ll take you through mask clipping in Photoshop and also do some Photoshop masking service tutorials.
Advance tips on how to mask in Photoshop
We’ve got our Clipping Mask layer, and now we can use this layer over any image we want, but if we want to cut out the subject properly and then make it a Clipping Mask. The secret to making your clipping mask layer look better and more professional is in the selection process we used earlier.
Suppose you want to cut a model from one background and place it on another background. In that case, the clipping mask will be the model you want to cut out and place somewhere.
So either you need to crop the subject properly to ensure that the subject is completely separated from its original background or when you place the subject on another background, the uneven edges will make the image look ugly.
Without precise cutting, what if you need a clipping mask of a specific size? Or do you want to create typography using the clipping mask technique?
Selection With Magnetic Lasso Tool
Deploying any model from one background to another is a common practice based on different requirements. Now you will know the secret and be able to do it yourself how to mask in Photoshop. To be able to do such a process, we need to select and cut subjects as accurately as possible.
You can use any lasso tool to make the selection more precise, but I’ll be using the Photoshop Magnetic Lasso tool for this tutorial. Select the Magnetic Lasso tool in Photoshop and select the subject with layers 1 and 2 visible. At first, selecting the edges will seem challenging, but I assure you that after some practice the process will become easy for you.
If you’ve made the correct selection, repeat the previous step to fill the selection area with any color you want, deselect the area, and create a Photoshop mask or clipping mask.
Create the mask using the Photoshop Shape tool
If you need to create a clipping mask in a specific shape, don’t worry, Adobe Photoshop has your back here too. There are multiple shapes built into their software, such as square shapes, round shapes, heart shapes, and more. But if you want to create your custom shape, you can also create your own shape.
