How to Make a Clipping Mask in Photoshop (Text, Shapes, and Stacking)
Clipping masks let you confine one layer to the visible pixels of the layer directly beneath it. They’re perfect for putting photos inside text or custom shapes, and for stacking textures and adjustments that only affect a specific area. In this tutorial, you’ll set up a clipping mask, align and link layers, understand opacity-driven clipping, and stack multiple clipped layers including an adjustment layer.
Step-by-step instructions
Place the image above the shape or text
Create your base layer (e.g., a text layer) and keep it below the photo in the Layers panel.
Drag the image layer directly above the layer you want to clip to.
Right-click the image layer → Create Clipping Mask (or Layer → Create Clipping Mask).
Use the Move Tool (V) to position/scale the clipped image; you can also move the base text/shape.
Keep the clipped image and base aligned
Shift-click to select the clipped image layer and its base (the layer it’s clipped to).
Click the chain-link icon to link them.
Move either layer and they will travel together without misalignment.
Understand that clipping follows base-layer opacity
Select the base layer (e.g., the text).
Soften or erase portions (e.g., with a soft Eraser brush) to reduce opacity on the base.
Observe the clipped image fading wherever the base layer becomes partially transparent.
Clip an image into a custom shape (e.g., a TV screen)
Create a precise shape for the target area using the Pen Tool (P) and cut out or define the screen area.
Ensure the image you want to show is directly above that shape layer in the Layers panel.
Right-click the image layer → Create Clipping Mask.
Move/scale the image so it sits perfectly within the custom shape.
Stack textures and adjustment layers with clipping masks
Add a texture layer above the already clipped image (e.g., a TV interference texture).
Right-click the texture layer → Create Clipping Mask so it clips to the same base shape.
Add an adjustment layer (Layer → New Adjustment Layer → Vibrance), then increase Vibrance/Saturation as desired.
Right-click the adjustment layer → Create Clipping Mask so the adjustment affects only the clipped stack beneath it.
