Photoshop CS Timesaving Techniques For Dummies [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

Using a Shape to Define Your Knock-Out

Here’s how to use a shape to define the knock-out:

Open a multi-layered image.

For this example, I’m using a heart shape as the lower clipping layer and a photograph of tulips for the upper layer, as shown in Figure 51-1. Notice that the area around the heart is transparent. This is represented by the checkerboard pattern in the Heart layer thumbnail.




Figure 51-1: To create a clipping mask, you need at least two layers.








Remember

Layers joined together in the clipping mask must be listed consecutively in the Layers palette.






Click the upper layer to select it.





Press Ctrl+G/z +G or choose Layer>Create Clipping Mask.

The two layers are combined into a clipping mask, as shown in Figure 51-2. Notice that in the Layers palette the upper layer in the clipping mask is indented and a tiny down-pointing arrow points to the layer below.




Figure 51-2: When two layers are combined in a clipping mask, the lower layer acts as a mask.






If you want to add another layer to the clipping mask, select the layer in the Layers palette, and then press Ctrl+G/z +G again.

Continue adding as many layers as you want.

You can remove a layer from a clipping mask by choosing Layer>Release Clipping Mask.








Tip

Even though layers are combined in a clipping mask, you can still select the lower layer in the clipping mask and apply layer styles, as shown in Figure 51-3. Figure 51-3: Applying layer styles to the lower layer in the clipping mask can add a finishing touch.