Simple Mask from File

[warriorweiss]

Okay, I'm just a week into my PhotoShop experience, so excuse the simplicity of my question. In short, I'm trying to create a clipping mask using a mask file that I downloaded. When I apply the mask, nothing happens...in other words, the top image (which in my case is basically just a blue pattern) remains. I turned off the layer visibility of that blue layer on my screen shot, so you can see the masking file I'm working with as I suspect that is where I'm not doing something right. Please help a newbie out! 🙂

[c.pfaffenbichler]

The »masking« Layer does not appear to have transparency, so Clipping Masking to it should have no meaningful effect. 

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Setting the other Layer’s Blending Mode to »Multiply« may achieve what you want to achieve here. 

Another option would be loading the »masking« Layer’s opacity as a Selection and using thet as a Layer Mask. 

Yet another option would be using Blend if-settings (by alt-click-dragging one can split the blend if-handles) and a Group. 

And I am not saying thaose are all the options … 

[War Unicorn]

In addition to what c_pfaff said, use a blend mode on that "mask", specifically, "Multiply." The white should punch right out and reveal whatever's underneath in the layer stack.

[warriorweiss]

These seem to make sense, but I think I need a little more step by step. For example, I can't find multiply and I'm not sure how to mask using the layer's opacity. Can you guys give a few more steps to get me there?

[c.pfaffenbichler]

[c.pfaffenbichler]

To load a Layer’s opacity cmd-click its icon in the Layers Panel. 

To load its luminance (hide the other Layers and) cmd-click the composite channel icon in the Channels Panel. 

[Bojan Živković]

You can also mask bottom layer. See animation below, what you can not see is that I am holding Ctrl key while clicking on RGB channel to load selection from which is later created layer mask by clicking on third icon from the left in the Layers panel.