if you have CS5

[nun69]

can you tell me what the shortcut is for a cliping mask? in the old version I had it was ctrl G + ctrl E...well that ain't working in CS5...hahahahaha...so can somebody help me please? so right now I can't use a template cause I don't know how to clip my papers to the template:p

[ColleenSwerb]

Just control G?

[dana]

i have CS3 - but for me - i click on the layer i want to clip, then put the curser between the two layers while holding down *option* and *command* (i'm on a mac - so i guess if you are PC it would be option and control?) - the curser will change to a different shape and then i click. to merge it down, command-E (or control E)

hopefully that made sense? hopefully it works!

when i was using PSE i used control-g ....

[NeverendingJen]

ctrl + alt + G is in CS4, then ctrl + E....I think its the same

[*Celeste*]

i do what dana does and hit the alt key while hovering between two selected layers - layer to clip and the mask. then i right click after and select merge down.

[nun69]

ctrl + alt + G is in CS4, then ctrl + E....I think its the same

I think I was forgetting the alt button...off to try again....

[emmasmommy]

i just right click and use 'clipping mask' lol

[Nettio]

i have CS3 - but for me - i click on the layer i want to clip, then put the curser between the two layers while holding down *option* and *command* (i'm on a mac - so i guess if you are PC it would be option and control?) - the curser will change to a different shape and then i click. to merge it down, command-E (or control E)

This is what I do too. I don't know what the shortcut keys would be since I never use them. But I do know Ctrl+G is group layers - I thought that changed with CS2? Or maybe CS3?

[jacinda]

I use Ctrl+Alt+G to clip it and then Ctrl+E to merge.

[ColleenSwerb]

I use Ctrl+Alt+G to clip it and then Ctrl+E to merge.

This. I had to open it and do it to check, lol.
And what the heck version were you using? Even in CS2 it was ctrl+alt+G, lol.

[BrattyMeg]

I right click too...lol I'm a mouse girl

[LibbysMommy]

Another right clicker here...it's too much for my little mind to try to remember all of the shortcuts, lol!!

[nun69]

This. I had to open it and do it to check, lol.
And what the heck version were you using? Even in CS2 it was ctrl+alt+G, lol.

I think it was2....and since I hadn't used PS in almost 2 weeks, since my computer crashed, I must have just forgotten the keys lol

[kscwgirl]

i do what dana does and hit the alt key while hovering between two selected layers - layer to clip and the mask. then i right click after and select merge down.

this is what i do too

[newfiemountiewife]

I just right click too...lol

[eranslow]

I must be the only person who doesn't merge down. Should I be?

[BrattyMeg]

I usually don't either Erin

[eranslow]

I usually don't either Erin

Oh good! Very happy to know I'm not alone :)

[Nettio]

I must be the only person who doesn't merge down. Should I be?

Nope, I never do either.

[Nettio]

And what the heck version were you using? Even in CS2 it was ctrl+alt+G, lol.

LOL I'd been wondering this too. :D

[nun69]

I know...it was old.......but now that my laptop died, I think hubby is willing to let me get CS5 {I am using the trial now} and LR3 :)

[kscwgirl]

I must be the only person who doesn't merge down. Should I be?

I only do b/c if i don't the layers annoy me lol

[HeatherKS]

i just right click and use 'clipping mask' lol

Yes, this. lol

[AmberK]

ok...im ashamed to admit that I dont even know how to use clipping masks. Is there a tut out there somewhere where I can learn how to do this?

[ColleenSwerb]

Amber, here's a super simple tut:
Open a template. Any template.
Drag a paper, any paper, onto the template file (I like to hold down shift when I do this, so that it comes in centered on the page).
Move the paper on top of one of the layers in the template.
With the paper layer highlighted in the layers palette, hit ctrl+alt+G (or right click on the paper layer and select "create clipping mask").
Boom. Done.

[kim21673]

Hmmm, what is this right clickin??? Off to try that. I usually just hover in my layers palette!!!!

[AmberK]

So when I use a template and want to copy the papers I usually click in the image in the layers pallette, then go to the patterned paper that Im wanting to copy and hit ctrl-c then ctrl-p. Am I essentially doing the same thing a clipping mask does but am just doing an extra step?

[Ginger_79]

Oh, I never tried the three-keys short key. I hover in the pallette as well. And I do merge down. Sometimes I get annoyed when working with too many layers. Especially as I rarely use auto selection. It drives me mad when I click somewhere and my layer selection is gone. Might be just getting used to it, but anyhow...

Heh, I used a Cindy two-pager the last days and any time I looked at my layer pallette it was an endless list. I wonder how she creates those without going mad.. LOL

Oh hey, btw. How do you do that thing, that you can mark layers with colours? Sometimes that would be very helpful, but I was too lazy to really figure it out so far.

[Shawna]

i just right click and use 'clipping mask' lol

me too...

[Nettio]

Oh, I never tried the three-keys short key. I hover in the pallette as well. And I do merge down. Sometimes I get annoyed when working with too many layers. Especially as I rarely use auto selection. It drives me mad when I click somewhere and my layer selection is gone. Might be just getting used to it, but anyhow...

Heh, I used a Cindy two-pager the last days and any time I looked at my layer pallette it was an endless list. I wonder how she creates those without going mad.. LOL

Oh hey, btw. How do you do that thing, that you can mark layers with colours? Sometimes that would be very helpful, but I was too lazy to really figure it out so far.

Obviously I'm not Cindy, haha, so I can't speak for what she does, but I use Layer Groups to keep all my layers under control. I've never used PSE but as I understand it, Groups in PSE don't work the same as in Photoshop (I'm not sure if there are Groups in PSE?), so all the grouping has to be removed when you create a template or else PSE users can't see the layers in the group. So I know my template layer list ends up WAY longer than my original layout because the hierarchy is flat rather than bundled up in nice, neat groups.

The layer color option is under Layer Properties (right-click on the layer). There's a little dropdown to choose the layer color.

[Ginger_79]

Oooh, thanks Lynnette! I should have figured it must be somewhere under properties. And I actually know the button, but have always ignored it. LOL

And the grouping is an excellent idea! Why do I never think of these things??? I'm using CS4, so no clue about PSE here either. I have to admit, I never used it and hearing about it I do understansd it's a simpler version, but it seems so random to me which features they kept and which not.

Btw your templates are beautiful!

[Nettio]

Oooh, thanks Lynnette! I should have figured it must be somewhere under properties. And I actually know the button, but have always ignored it. LOL

And the grouping is an excellent idea! Why do I never think of these things??? I'm using CS4, so no clue about PSE here either. I have to admit, I never used it and hearing about it I do understansd it's a simpler version, but it seems so random to me which features they kept and which not.

Btw your templates are beautiful!

Oh thanks! :wub: One other nifty trick with using groups is if you use shadow layer styles, you can assign the layer style to the Group and the style will be applied to all the layers within that group. Super useful for shadowing similar items like alphas.

[Nettio]

So when I use a template and want to copy the papers I usually click in the image in the layers pallette, then go to the patterned paper that Im wanting to copy and hit ctrl-c then ctrl-p. Am I essentially doing the same thing a clipping mask does but am just doing an extra step?

Kind of but not really, haha. The end result is somewhat similar but when you use a clipping mask, you're really just masking aka hiding the part of the patterned paper that falls outside of that shape - the entire paper is still intact below the shape.

The big advantage to this is if you change your mind, you can just unclip the paper and clip it to a new shape in the template which is a lot easier/faster than having to copy and paste to that shape again. You can also transform the paper within the shape which means you can move and scale the paper to show whatever you want since the entire paper is still there. With copy and paste you would be limited only to the part of the paper you copied.

I'm not sure that makes sense, haha, but I recommend playing around with them because they really are useful.

[AmberK]

That totally makes sence Lynette- thanks for the info! Will have to give clipping masks a try next time I scrap!

Kind of but not really, haha. The end result is somewhat similar but when you use a clipping mask, you're really just masking aka hiding the part of the patterned paper that falls outside of that shape - the entire paper is still intact below the shape.

The big advantage to this is if you change your mind, you can just unclip the paper and clip it to a new shape in the template which is a lot easier/faster than having to copy and paste to that shape again. You can also transform the paper within the shape which means you can move and scale the paper to show whatever you want since the entire paper is still there. With copy and paste you would be limited only to the part of the paper you copied.

I'm not sure that makes sense, haha, but I recommend playing around with them because they really are useful.

[eranslow]

Oh thanks! :wub: One other nifty trick with using groups is if you use shadow layer styles, you can assign the layer style to the Group and the style will be applied to all the layers within that group. Super useful for shadowing similar items like alphas.

this is so cool!! I'll definitely have to give that a try on my next page :)