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Clipping mask

New Here ,
Oct 10, 2018 Oct 10, 2018

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Hi, I am new to photoshop. I want to put my image in a circle by using Clipping mask. I don't know how to do. Can anyone guide me please ?

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Advocate , Oct 10, 2018 Oct 10, 2018

Hi, Check this out. I found this tutorial for you.

A Mask Layer And A Clipped Layer

If we look in the Layers panel, we see the photo on the Background layer, which is currently the only layer in the document:

The Layers panel showing the photo on the Background layer.

Photoshop Layers panel showing the original photo on the Background layer

We need two layers to create a clipping mask, one to serve as the mask and one that will be clipped to the mask, so let's add a second layer. We'll add the new layer below the image. First, unlock the Background layer. In Photoshop CC,

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Community Expert ,
Oct 10, 2018 Oct 10, 2018

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• Create a Shape Layer with the Ellipse Tool

• place the image above (either move the Layer there [to convert a Background Layer to a regular one double-click it] or use File > Place if you created a new file)

• Layer > Create Clipping Mask (cmd-alt-G)

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Community Expert ,
Oct 10, 2018 Oct 10, 2018

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Draw the circle on a new layer. Move it below the photo. Right-click the image layer and select Create Clipping Mask.

Photo credit to davescm​ on the SFTW photo challenge.

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Advocate ,
Oct 10, 2018 Oct 10, 2018

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Hi, Check this out. I found this tutorial for you.

A Mask Layer And A Clipped Layer

If we look in the Layers panel, we see the photo on the Background layer, which is currently the only layer in the document:

The Layers panel showing the photo on the Background layer.

Photoshop Layers panel showing the original photo on the Background layer

We need two layers to create a clipping mask, one to serve as the mask and one that will be clipped to the mask, so let's add a second layer. We'll add the new layer below the image. First, unlock the Background layer. In Photoshop CC, click the lock icon to unlock it. In Photoshop CS6 or earlier, press and hold the Alt (Win) / Option (Mac) key on your keyboard and double-click on the Background layer:

Unlocking the Background layer in Photoshop

Unlocking the Background layer.

This unlocks the Background layer and renames it "Layer 0":

The Background layer has been unlocked in Photoshop

Unlocking the Background layer lets us add a new layer below it.

Then, to add a new layer below the image, press and hold the Ctrl (Win) / Command (Mac) key on your keyboard and click the Add New Layer icon:

Adding a new layer below the image to create a clipping mask

Adding a new layer below the image.

A new layer named "Layer 1" appears below the photo, and we now have two layers in the document. We'll turn the bottom layer into the mask, and the image above it will be clipped to the mask:

The second layer needed for the clipping mask has been added to the document in Photoshop

The second layer needed for the clipping mask has been added.

Understanding Clipping Masks: Content vs Transparency

Hide the original image for the moment by clicking the top layer's visibility icon:

Clicking the layer visibility icon to hide the image

Clicking the visibility icon to hide the photo.

With the top layer turned off, we see the layer we just added. By default, new layers in Photoshop are blank, meaning they have no content at all. A layer with no content is transparent and we see right through it. When there are no other layers below a transparent layer, Photoshop displays the transparency as a checkerboard pattern, as we see here:

The layer on the bottom is transparent, indicated by the checkerboard pattern in Photoshop

The checkerboard pattern means the bottom layer is transparent.

Turn the top layer back on by clicking again on it visibility icon:

Clicking the layer visibility icon again in the Layers panel.

Clicking the same visibility icon.

The top layer contains actual content. In this case, it's pixel-based content because we're looking at a digital photo, but in Photoshop, content could also be a vector shape or even text. Really, anything that isn't transparency is considered content:

The layer on top contains content, in this case a pixel-based image

The top layer contains actual content.

How To Create A Clipping Mask In Photoshop

Clipping masks use the content and transparency of the layer below to control the visibility of the layer above. Let's create a clipping mask using our two layers and see what happens.

Step 1: Select The Layer That Will Be Clipped

When creating a clipping mask, we first need to select the layer that's going to be clipped to the layer below it. In this case, the top layer ("Layer 0") will be clipped to the bottom layer ("Layer 1"), so make sure the top layer is selected:

Selecting the layer that will be clipped to the layer below

Selecting the top layer.

Step 2: Choose "Create Clipping Mask"

To create the clipping mask, go up to the Layer menu in the Menu Bar and choose Create Clipping Mask:

Selecting the Create Clipping Mask command from the Layer menu in Photoshop

Go to Layer > Create Clipping Mask.

And that's all there is to it! With the layer mask created, the Layers panel now shows the top layer ("Layer 0" ) indented to the right, with a small arrow pointing down at "Layer 1" below it. This is how Photoshop tells us that the top layer is now clipped to the layer below:

The Layers panel showing the clipping mask, with the top layer clipped to the mask layer below

The Layers panel showing the top layer clipped to the bottom layer.

But the problem is, all we've accomplished so far by creating a clipping mask is that we've hidden the image from view, and that's because our mask layer ("Layer 1") contains no content. It's completely transparent. With a clipping mask, any areas on the top layer that are sitting directly above transparent areas on the bottom layer are hidden. Since the bottom layer contains nothing but transparency, no part of the image above it is visible:

Creating a clipping mask from a transparent layer hides the image above it from view

With no content on the mask layer, the image on the clipped layer is hidden.

How To Release A Clipping Mask

That wasn't very interesting, so release the clipping mask by going up to the Layer menu and choosing Release Clipping Mask:

Choosing the Release Clipping Mask command from the Layer menu in Photoshop

Going to Layer > Release Clipping Mask.

In the Layers panel, the top layer is no longer indented to the right, which means it's no longer clipped to the layer below:

The Layers panel showing that the clipping mask has been released.

The layer mask has been released.

And in the document, we're back to seeing our image:

The image is visible again after releasing the clipping mask.

With the clipping mask released, the image returns.

Adding Content To The Clipping Mask

Let's add some content to the bottom layer. Click the top layer's visibility icon to hide the image so we can see what we're doing:

Hiding the image on the top layer before adding content to the layer below

Clicking the top layer's visibility icon.

Then click on the bottom layer to make it active:

Selecting the bottom layer to add content

Selecting the bottom layer.

To add content, we'll draw a simple shape. Select the Elliptical Marquee Tool from the Toolbar by right-clicking (Win) / Control-clicking (Mac) on the Rectangular Marquee Tool and choosing the Elliptical Marquee Tool from the fly-out menu:

Selecting the Elliptical Marquee Tool from the Toolbar in Photoshop

Selecting the Elliptical Marquee Tool.

Click and drag out an elliptical selection outline in the center of the document:

Drawing an elliptical selection outline on the bottom layer

Drawing a selection with the Elliptical Marquee Tool.

Go up to the Edit menu in the Menu Bar and choose Fill:

Choosing the Fill command from the Edit menu in Photoshop.

Going to Edit > Fill.

In the Fill dialog box, set the Contents option to black, and then click OK:

Choosing Black in the Fill dialog box in Photoshop

The Fill dialog box.

Photoshop fills the selection with black. To remove the selection outline from around the shape, go up to the Select menu and choose Deselect:

Choosing the Deselect command in Photoshop

Going to Select > Deselect.

And now, instead of a completely transparent layer, we have an area with some content in the center. Notice, though, that the area surrounding the content remains transparent:

The clipping mask layer now contains both content and transparency

The bottom layer now contains both content and transparency.

Back in the Layers panel, the preview thumbnail for the bottom layer now shows the black shape. What's important to note here is that if you compare the preview thumbnails for both layers, you'll see that some of the image on the top layer is sitting directly above the content (the shape) on the bottom layer. And, some of the photo is sitting above the transparent areas on the bottom layer:

The Layers panel showing the content and transparency on the bottom layer

The preview thumbnail showing the content and transparency on the bottom layer.

Creating Another Clipping Mask

Now that we've added some content to the bottom layer, let's create another clipping mask. Again, we first need to select the layer that will be clipped to the layer below, so click on the top layer to select it. Then, click the top layer's visibility icon to make the image on the layer visible:

Selecting and turning on the layer that will be clipped by the mask

Selecting and turning on the layer that will be clipped.

Go back up to the Layer menu and once again choose Create Clipping Mask:

Selecting the Create Clipping Mask command from the Layer menu in Photoshop

Go again to Layer > Create Clipping Mask.

In the Layers panel, we see the top layer clipped to the layer below it, just like we saw last time:

The Layers panel showing the top layer clipped to the bottom layer after creating the clipping mask

The Layers panel again showing the clipping mask.

But in the document, we now see a very different result. This time, the section of the photo that's sitting directly above the shape on the layer below it remains visible! The only parts of the photo that are hidden are the areas surrounding the shape, since those areas are still sitting above transparency:

Photoshop clipping mask after adding content to the mask layer

The content on the bottom layer keeps part of the top layer visible.

Moving Content Within A Clipping Mask

Of course, the result might look better if our subject was centered inside the shape. With clipping masks, it's easy to move and reposition content within them. Just select the Move Tool from the Toolbar:

Selecting the Move Tool in Photoshop.

Selecting the Move Tool.

Then click on the photo and drag it into position. As you move the image, only the area that moves over the shape on the layer below it remains visible. And that's the basics of how clipping masks work:

How to create a clipping mask in Photoshop tutorial

The clipping mask after centering the photo within the shape.

Thanks.

Muqqarib

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Enthusiast ,
Oct 10, 2018 Oct 10, 2018

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Hi,

there are several ways to get it. A simply method is:

- copy the image that you want to past in the circle

- draw a circular selection (elliptical marquee tool)

- past into a circle (Edit > Past special > past into)

Photoshop create a layer with a layer mask

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Community Expert ,
Oct 10, 2018 Oct 10, 2018

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Hi check given video that is best for you to understand...Thanks.

Ali Sajjad / Graphic Design Trainer / Freelancer / Adobe Certified Professional

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New Here ,
Oct 11, 2018 Oct 11, 2018

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Thank You so much!

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