Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Once the layers are clipped together, you can still slide the top layer around with the Move
tool to reposition it so that you see exactly the part of it that you want. In
Figure 6-16
, for ex-
ample, the ocean layer was positioned so the breaking wave appears at the bottom of the
shell shape.
To clip two layers together, position them next to each other in the Layers panel by dragging.
(Put the one you want to act as the mask
below
the other image.) Then make the top layer (of
the two you want to clip) the active layer. Finally, choose Layer→Create Clipping Mask or
press Ctrl+G/
⌘
-G.
NOTE
You can clip more than two layers together at once as long as they're all next to each oth-
er in the Layers panel.
Here's another way to clip layers together: Hold down Alt/Option, and then, in the Layers
panel, move your cursor over the dividing line between the layers you want to clip. When
two linked circles appear by your cursor, click once and Elements clips those layers together
with a clipping mask.
If you get tired of the layer grouping or want to delete or change one of the layers, then select
one of the clipped layers and go to Layer→Release Clipping Mask or press Ctrl+G/
⌘
-G
again to undo the grouping.
TIP
Elements gives you an even easier way to clip layers: The New Layer dialog box has a
“Use Previous Layer to Create Clipping Mask” checkbox. Turn it on, and Elements pre-
clips your new layer to the layer below it.
Merging and Flattening Layers
By now, you probably have some sense of how useful layers are. But there's a downside to
having layers in an image: They take up a lot of storage space, especially if you have a bunch
of duplicate layers. (In other words, layers make files bigger.) Fortunately, you don't have to
