What is a clipping mask?

With a clipping mask, we can use the contents of a layer to mask the upper layers. The lower layer that contains the content of the mask, is called the “base layer”. In the clipping mask, the non-transparent content of the base layer cuts through the contents of the layers above it. All other content is filtered out in the cut out layers.
You can select multiple layers in a clipping, but they can only be successive layers.
In other words, a clipping mask acts like a ‘normal’ mask, with the difference that it masks the contents of the overlaying layer or layers.

Adding A Clipping Mask

As an example, I used an image with two layers.
A layer of  a beach, plus an underlying transparent layer (2), as an example, that I have colored with the brush.
But this can be anything as long as you partially filled the transparent part.
The shape of the content of this layer must be used as mask.To add a clipping mask, place the cursor between the two layers, hold the Alt key on your keyboard pressed and when it changes into a flash icon(3), click.

This adds a clipping to the image.

The name of the base layer in the mask is underlined (1) and the thumbnail image of the upper layer is provided with a downward pointing arrow and is indented (2).

So we can, as mentioned earlier, add a clipping mask to multiple layers, as long as they are successive layers. Even the layers with a layer mask.

To remove a clipping, hold the mouse pointer with the Alt key on your keyboard pressed between two layers and when it changes into a cut out icon, click it again.
The advantage of clipping is that you can use an image as a mask and you can cut through multiple layers.

Clipping text

The same can also be done by text.
The advantage is that you can always change and move text.
Change the text, you know how to do that, and move it with the “Move” tool.
Try it again on the bottom layer, the photos above include the bottom layer text.
Regarding the layer styles used in the text layer. For those who are working for the first time with Photoshop, better follow this lesson first, others may already know it.

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