How do you put part of a layer behind another?

[iKivodo]

In photoshop, I am making a logo. I want the tips of each "S" in this image‌ to go behind each other, But I don't want the entire S behind the other. How can I do this?

[Chuck Uebele]

You create a layer mask so that you can show what's behind the top layer.

[iKivodo]

I have done that but I have no idea what to do next.

[Norman Sanders]

After  you add a mask to the top layer, paint on the image (actually, the mask) in black with a hard edge brush. It will hide the overlapping part of the top S and reveal the contour of the lower one.

[Chuck Uebele · Accepted solution]

Add a layer mask by clicking on the mask icon in the layers panel. The ctrl/cmd click on the layer icon to make a selection:

Press ctrl/cmd-alt/opt-shift and click on the other layer's icon. This will limit the selection to just those areas were the two shape over lap. Select the layer mask, and with a black paint brush paint out the areas you don't want.

[Norman Sanders]

If this is how the file is constructed, just add a mask to the top layer and mask the area of the top "S"  that is circled to reveal the contour of the middle layer "S"