How to use a “Clipping Mask” to insert photos into a template

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This is a very basic tutorial on how to use clipping masks to insert photos into a template or card.

To start with, open your template.  For this example, I am using a very simple white template.  Openings shown in black.  The black represents the layer(s) in your templates that you need to clip to.  Depending on the designer they may be labeled “Photo Layer,” “Photo” or almost anything else.  What you are looking for to identify these layers is a shape (such as a rectangle) in your layers palette.

clipping-mask-tut-900x485 How to use a "Clipping Mask" to insert photos into a template Photoshop Tips

Once you find these, you need to bring the photo(s) into the template and place a photo above the layer.  So in this sample, there is a layer 2 and layer 3.  Whichever photo you place above layer 2 will be on the right and directly above layer 3 will be on the left.

To move a photo into your canvas, go WINDOW – ARRANGE – CASCADE so you can see things staggered.  Then use the MOVE tool to move the photo into the template or card.  Once your photo is inside, move it above the layer you need it to clip to, and position so that it is over that shape.

This is what your layers palette will look like with your photo placed above layer 2.

clipping-mask-tut2 How to use a "Clipping Mask" to insert photos into a template Photoshop Tips

To resize a photo that is way too big, hold CTRL (or CMD) + “T” and this will bring up your transform handles.  Then hold down SHIFT KEY.  And move in one of the 4 corners to shrink.  If you do not hold SHIFT, your photo will distort.  Click the check mark at the top to accept the change.

clipping-mask-tut3 How to use a "Clipping Mask" to insert photos into a template Photoshop Tips

Next you will be adding the clipping mask so that the photo clips just to the shape layer below. There are numerous ways to do this.  The easiest way is to go in your layers palette menu and select from the drop down “Create Clipping Mask.”  If you prefer short cut keys it is ALT + CTRL + G (OPT + CMD + G).

clipping-mask-tut4 How to use a "Clipping Mask" to insert photos into a template Photoshop Tips

Once you do this you can move your photo around to taste and it will only be inside that shape below.

clipping-mask-tut5 How to use a "Clipping Mask" to insert photos into a template Photoshop Tips

Next Step is to insert a photo above each other layer and clip it to the cooresponding layer as well.  Then you are ready to save.

As I said this is a basic clipping mask tutorial as related to templates and cards.  Clipping masks can be used for a variety of other applications as well.  I hope this helps you start understanding them.

clipping-mask-tut6 How to use a "Clipping Mask" to insert photos into a template Photoshop Tips

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  1. keri on December 1, 2008 at 1:07 pm

    you are awesome! thanks jodi 🙂 i never could figure that out! haha…

  2. janeth on December 1, 2008 at 4:22 pm

    Thank you Jodi. Great tutorial!!:o)

  3. Niki from CA on December 1, 2008 at 6:10 pm

    Thanks a ton!! Except I’m a little on the slow side today…. how do you get the black rectangles again?

  4. Pam on December 2, 2008 at 1:40 am

    Thanks for this tutorial, Jodi. It’s just what I was trying to figure out and here you make it look so darn simple!Also wanted to say how excited I am to see that you are now on PW’s photo “staff”. You sure started off with a bang showing one of your step by step tutorials! I think you are the best around!

  5. Jennifer Bartlett on December 6, 2008 at 12:19 am

    Thank you for sharing this. It will help me alot. You are so kind to take all this time to help.

  6. SBL clipping path services on December 19, 2008 at 12:04 am

    This is just a fantastic tutorial! How totally cool!! Regards,SBL Graphicshttp://www.saibposervices.com/Clipping-path_services.aspx

  7. tracy on January 14, 2009 at 3:10 pm

    ok, i never knew how to do that. THANKS!

  8. Lindsay on November 11, 2011 at 6:43 pm

    Thank you thank you. Your tutorial was WAY easier to understand and use than others I came across. I am saving this to my Pinterest in the case I forget how to do this AGAIN!! 🙂

  9. Saundra Hodsdon on December 10, 2011 at 8:48 pm

    It is really a great and helpful piece of information. I am glad that you shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.

  10. Catherine on February 4, 2012 at 8:48 pm

    Thank you! This tutorial was the easiest to understand!

  11. erin on May 20, 2012 at 12:25 am

    FINALLY. I have been beating my head against a wall thinking i was missing some really basic PSE skill so that I could use digital scrapbooking templates instead of just the quick pages (which unless I want all my pages to look the same I could only use once). This was the best and easiest tutorial to use. PSE help is completely non-existent. Your tutorial explained the basic fact that the shape of the picture (and it’s location) needed to somehow be attached to the picture (via a clipping mask) and then it would only be visible behind that area. Fabulous. Now the next step for me is to figure out how to easily drag/drop the photos to the layer listings.

  12. Hillary on November 24, 2012 at 11:16 pm

    Hi Jodi,Thank you so much! This helped a ton today. Much Appreciated!

  13. Divya on November 30, 2013 at 1:19 am

    Thank you Jodi. this is wonderful tutorial….

  14. Shalene Rivera on February 6, 2014 at 7:03 pm

    Thank you so much for this tutorial! 🙂

  15. Kevin Petersen on December 2, 2014 at 2:50 am

    Thanks Jodi for your wonderful tutorial.Please keep posting like that.

  16. seocpsiteam on March 21, 2018 at 7:09 am

    Finally i got a tutorial where i find the exact solution I am looking for. Thank you very much.

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