Tutorials

Clipping Group

08/08/2002

On today's show I will explain how the clipping group is used in Photoshop.

Clipping group is a cool function of layers that allows one layer to be used as a mask for other layers. The layers above the base image that are grouped are seen only through the active pixels of the base layer.

Where there are no pixels in the base layer, the layers above the base image are invisible. The base layer, or the layer used as a mask, uses its transparency information as the mask.

The image of the bowl shown on today's show has the shape of the bowl as the base layer. In the layers clipped by it there are the various elements that make up the total scene.
One of the layers contains the wood grain. The wood grain was created using the same technique I demonstrated on an earlier show when I created the wooden nameplate. Other layers contain shadows, highlights, cracks in the wood, color, and other details.