Creating a Clipping Mask


The easiest and most flexible method of placing the gulls in the sky is to create a clipping mask with a Sky layer. Follow these steps:

  1. Drag the Gulls layer immediately above the Background.

  2. Target the Background. Choose the Magic Wand tool and set the tolerance to 50. Click on the white area above the hotel.

  3. Choose Layer New Layer Via Copy. Name the new layer Sky .

  4. Place your cursor on the line between the Sky layer and the Gulls layer above it. Press Option/Alt and click your mouse. The Gulls layer is now clipped to the Sky layer, taking its shape.

  5. Target the Gulls layer. Choose the Move tool; drag the Gulls layer inside the clip until you are satisfied with its position.

  6. Target the Gulls layer. Drop the opacity to 67% to subdue the gulls a little. The image should look like Figure H8.2, shown earlier in the chapter (see the image s Layers palette in Figure H8.14).

    click to expand
    Figure H8.14: The Layers palette of the Flamingo Hotel image

  7. Save the image.

On the CD, in the MoreBirds subfolder, are additional images to add to the Flamingo Hotel to practice layer mask techniques.




Photoshop CS Savvy
Photoshop CS Savvy
ISBN: 078214280X
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2004
Pages: 355

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