Clipping mask work-around?

[SharLamb]

I ran across a PS technique I was able to duplicate until I got to the last, critical, step, which was to "Create Clipping Mask." I don't think PSE can do that. Is there a work-around?

I will try to describe the technique. (If you have hard copy of the August/September issue of Digital Scrapbooking magazine, you can see it on page 63.)

There is a photo of a little boy at the beach. On the bottom 1/3 of the photo, the word MEMORIES fills the width of the photo, with the photo showing where the letters are, but white space between the letters.

Bottom line: What it looks like is that someone cut the photo so that the word kind of hangs off the bottom of it. Sorry. This is obviously very hard to explain! If anyone understands me and can help me figure out how to do it in PSE 5, I'd love to hear from you.

Shar

[TonyW]

You can do clipping masks in PSE - it's called "Group with Previous". You can do it by holding down Alt and clicking between layers in the layers palette (click when the pointy finger turns into the mask looking icon). That should do what you want.

Tony

[SharLamb]

Okay, here is the best I could come up with. It's a sad facsimile, but it will give you the idea. What I did was duplicate the photo. On one I used the type mask tool to write the word MEMORIES. Then I cropped the other photo to the right height, and dragged MEMORIES over to it and placed it as accurately as I could. The photo I chose doesn't have as much contrast as it should have, so I also put a stroke outline around the letters. I guess on a galloping horse, it would pass muster. But I'd like a better way to do it.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/17qyQGw0WvHzZNhmhJGlJqqxi1zRf1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=17qyQGw0WvHzZNhmhJGlJqqxi1zRf1)

Shar

[SharLamb]

Tony! Thank you so much! That was so easy. Isn't it always when you know what to do!!

Here is the result of my experiment using your version: http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1Dso29jmalkDJSIEwF2glkHlRQFrZ_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1Dso29jmalkDJSIEwF2glkHlRQFrZ)

I think it's wonderful. Well, it's my son and grandson, so what's not to love? ;)

Shar

[Byron Gale]

Shar,

That's a neat idea - and nicely done, to boot!

Consider it stolen!!! :twisted:

Byron

[TonyW]

Shari: Glad you got it figured out. Just for fun I tried to guess what they did (it's not a mag I read :)). Is this close??

2474

Tony

[SharLamb]

Very close, Tony. But my second try, with your guidance turned out to be exactly what I wanted. I love when things like that happen! Almost as nice as a perfect 6-iron shot to within 2 inches of the cup!

I am going to write down your instructions right now so I can do this again. :D

Shar

[TonyW]

Very close, Tony. But my second try, with your guidance turned out to be exactly what I wanted. I love when things like that happen! Almost as nice as a perfect 6-iron shot to within 2 inches of the cup!

I am going to write down your instructions right now so I can do this again. :D

Shar

Shari: I prefer it when it goes in the hole :D - the closest I get to a golf course these days is on the Wii and I got two perfect chip-ins today in the first 9 holes. Almost as good a feeling as the real thing :D

Tony

[SharLamb]

You're right...in the hole is best, but I wasn't going to be greedy. ;) Yesterday I sank a 40-foot putt with the refreshment cart girl sitting there watching me. I told her she had to follow us the rest of the round! WE don't have a Wii, so I will have to go suffer on the course.

Shar (handicap in low 30's) :O

[SharLamb]

By the way, here is my latest attempt. I can see that this one would have been simpler to make by just using the type mask tool on the grass since there aren't any details in the photo behind the title. I entered this one in the Long Hot Summer contest at Scrapper's Guide (gave you credit, Tony), where the rule is to make a scrap page of a favorite object.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1uH8NqEFDv77YoEZ8v1tbp4zswrcwp_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1uH8NqEFDv77YoEZ8v1tbp4zswrcwp)

Thanks again,
Shar

[Martha]

Congratulations!! I saw your creation was a winner in the Digital Scrapper contest (newsletter Vol 6, Issue 28)
Martha.

[lindylou50]

saw this in the SG newsletter can you explain exactly how you did it please?

[Grammy]

Shar, I really like those creations! Could you please share the techniques, step-by-step? I'd love to do one of the memories pages exactly like the one you did of your son and grandson (except I'd substitute my kiddos :D).
Thanks a bunch,
Terry

[Photographer Wanabe]

I tried, the pointy finger never turns into a mask icon. what am I doing wrong?

[emkayess65]

Hi, are you holding down the Alt key while hovering between the layers?
What you should get is not exactly a mask;
more like two overlapping black circles.
Ctrl + G and Layers >> Group with previous do the same thing; indent the layer.
mks

[sbe8418]

Your forum is incredible. I have been trying for the last hour to create the exact image that Shari was inquiring about (I read the same magazine) and have been unable to make it work. I was wondering how I was going to word my question and lo and behold, Shari did it for me. You all are the best!!!!! Thanks!