Photo 11

Sue Leith

Clipping Masks

Open the image, Vase Begin.

1. Examine all layers individually. The background layer is just a blurred larger version of the top layer. The middle layer is a textured shape surrounded by transparency.

2. “Clip” the top layer called flowers for pattern to the middle layer called vase. Now the vase should look as if it is made of the flower pattern.

3. Reveal some of the pattern of the vase and all of the stem area from the layer below.

4. Turn on the eye for the bottom layer. There isn’t enough separation between the vase and background so add some layer effects to the vase layer for separation.

5. Increase the contrast of only the two top clipped layers - the flower pattern (top layer) and vase layers, not the background layer.

6. On separate layers, de-saturate the background (subtle) and saturate the top two layers (vase and flowers for pattern).

Save as Yourname.clipping.psd

How to do this exercise is on the back, but as usually try to do it before looking.

How to do this exercise.

1. Turn eyes on and off.

2. Hold down the Option key on your keyboard while moving your mouse between the

flowers for pattern layer to the vase layer until you see the icon that looks like a chain link fence. Click. The top layer should now be indented with an arrow pointing down. This works because the vase is surrounded by transparency so the flower pattern only shows through where there are pixels, not in transparent areas.

3. Click on the icon at the bottom of the layers palette to add a layer mask. On the mask, paint the stems with black, the top of the vase where it’s open with black, the handle with gray and some of the bottom with gray. (If you aren’t sure how much gray, paint with black then used Edit > Fade till you like the way it looks.)

4. Make sure you are working on the vase layer and either double click on the layer or click on the icon at the bottom of the layers palette that has a circle with an “f” to bring up the layer effects dialog box. Make sure to double click on the option you want (as opposed to just checking the box) so you get additional options for that effect.

5. Make sure you are on the top flowers for pattern layer and add a curves layer by clicking Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves and when the dialog box pops up before curves, click the box that says “use previous layer to create clipping mask”. Then, in the curves dialog box make a gentle S curve.

6. Add a new blank layer above the blurred flowers for background layer and set the blend mode to saturation. Paint with black; lower the opacity of the layer to make a more subtle effect. Add another new, blank layer above the flowers for pattern layer. Again, set the blend mode to saturation. Paint with any color, and again, lower the opacity of the layer for a more subtle effect. If this layer isn’t indented and only affecting the “clipped” layers be sure to option click between the layer to do this.