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By Root 1858 0

mask the contents of a layer based on the transparency and opacity of the layer beneath it. So, if you have two or more layers that need to be masked identically, one way to do this is to apply a layer mask to the first layer and then create a clipping mask with the layer or layers above it. Once a clipping mask has been applied, the upper layer or layers will appear indented in the Layers panel (Figure 9.34). You can alter the blend mode and opacity of the individual layers in a clipping group, but it is the transparency and opacity of the lower (masked) layer that determines the transparency and opacity of all the layers that are in the clipping mask group.

Figure 9.34 This shows an example of a clipping mask, where the Gradient Fill layer forms a clipping mask with the masked image layer beneath it. Note how the layer in the clipping mask group appears indented in the layer stack.

The main advantage of using clipping masks is that whenever you have a number of layers that are required to share the same mask, you only need to apply a mask to the bottom-most layer. Then when you make a clipping mask, the layer (or layers) in the clipping mask group will all be linked to this same mask. So for example, if you edit the master mask, the edit changes you make to it are simultaneously applied to the layer (or layers) above it.

Ways to create a clipping mask

To create a clipping mask, select a single layer or make a selection of the layers you want to group together and choose Layer Clipping Mask Create. Alternatively, -click the border line between the layers. This action toggles creating and releasing the layers from a clipping mask group. Plus you can use the keyboard shortcut to make the selected layers form a clipping mask with the layer below.

Whenever you add an adjustment layer you can create a clipping mask with the layer below by clicking on the Clipping Mask button in the Adjustments panel. This allows you to toggle quickly between a clipping mask and non-clipping state (see Figure 9.35).

Figure 9.35 This shows the Clipping Mask button in the Adjustments panel that allows you to toggle between enabling and disabling a clipping mask with the layer beneath the adjustment layer.

You can also create clipping masks at the same time as you add a new layer. In the example that's shown on the next few pages, you can see how I -clicked the Add New Adjustment Layer button, which opened the New Layer dialog. This allowed me to check the ‘Use Previous Layer to Create Clipping Mask’ option (the same thing applies when clicking the Add New Layer button).

Masking layers within a group

I use clipping masks quite a lot, but there is also another way that you can achieve the same kind of result and that is to make a selection of two or more layers and place them into a masked layer group (choose Layer Group Layers). With the layer group selected, click on the Add Layer Mask button in the Layers panel to add a layer mask to the group. If you now edit the layer mask for the layer group, you can simultaneously mask all the layer group contents.

Clipping layers and adjustment layers

The following steps show how clipping masks can be used to group a fill layer with an image layer and how you can group two adjustment layers together so that they form a clipping mask.

1.

This shows a composite image in which I had carried out most of the retouching on the face and added a layer containing a new backdrop image. In this instance, the mask allows the model image layer and retouching layers to show through from below.

2.

In this next step I added a linear Gradient Fill layer with a solid peach color fading to transparency. As you can see, when adding this new fill layer I created a clipping mask with the backdrop image layer. One way to do this was to hold down the key as I clicked on the Add New Adjustment Layer button (circled). This opened the New Layer dialog shown here, where I checked the ‘Use Previous Layer to Create Clipping Mask’.

3.

Lastly, I made a lasso selection of the model's eyes and added