Layers - Adobe Photoshop Elements 11 for Photographers - page 299

Creating a selection first
before adding an Adjust-
ment or Fill layer will auto -
matically create a mask the
size and shape of the selec-
tion when adding the new
layer.
In this example, a feath-
ered elliptical selection
was created and inverted
before adding a Levels Ad-
justment layer to darken
the picture surrounds.

BEFORE AFTER

Creating masks from Selections workflow:
1 Use any of the Selection tools to create a selection first.
2 Adjust the edge qualities of the selection using the Refine Edge feature.
3 Now add an Adjustment or Fill layer by selecting the entry type from the Layer menu
or the New Fill or Adjustment Layer button at the top of the Layers Palette.

Creating Clipping masks
Another Photoshop Elements masking technique uses the special Create
Clipping Mask command (previously called Group with Previous) found
in the Layer menu. This command uses the transparency surrounding
objects on a layer as a mask for the content of any layers that are above it in
the stack.

In the example the balloon image was placed above the test text layer.
With the balloon layer active the Create Clipping Mask command (Layer >
Create Clipping Mask) was selected. The result is that the example image
now fills the text shape but is masked from showing through the rest of the
layer by the transparency surrounding the type. This technique also works
with shapes and filled selections drawn on a separate layer surrounded by
transparency.