Photoshop tip: Using a clipping mask

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

Layers and masks are central to editing a photo in Photoshop. Masks, in particular, let you hide parts of a layer. A clipping mask offers even more options.

A mask is one of the most important tools in Photoshop. It lets you hide part of a layer. White reveals, black hides.

Sometimes you want to perform several edits using the same mask. You can put those adjustment layers in a group and apply the mask to this group. This lets you mask all the edits at once.

There is another way to use an existing mask. This is the clipping mask. It links the layer to the layer below it, using the mask of the underlying layer.

Right-click and select Create Clipping Mask. A quicker method is to hold down the ALT/OPT key while moving the mouse over the boundary between the two layers. You will then see the clipping mask icon. Click and it will be applied.

The advantage of a clipping mask is that you can create a mask within a mask. The clipping mask uses the mask of the underlying layer, but you can still use a mask for the layer above it.

This lets you use very complex masks that are also flexible. It also means you do not have to copy one mask to multiple layers or make changes to multiple masks.

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