Clipping Mask?

[NeoBatWare]

I haven't used a tutorial in a long time, but I remember that a lot of the more advanced tutorials told me to create a clipping mask.

 

My question is, what is a clipping mask, what is it for, and how do you use it?... okay so that was 3 questions actually but whatever .

[iBotPeaches]

I use clipping masks, and I'm not even a sig maker.lol. I got this one GFX guys.

 

Lets say we have a shape. A square, I place an image ontop of it, thats like 10000 pixels bigger, I clip the image to the square and the image fits inside the square. Make sense?

[D.HeRo♥]

sorry peaches, but gotta prove you wrong, to get a clipping mask while doing a sig, make a new layer, image/apply image, new layer, make a shape with white on the new layer(brush, c4d, whatever)after making your shape, go image/apply image again, then press Ctrl+G i think, then just move the layer around to give the whit spot a see through effect

[.dice♥]

i'll try to explain it also.

 

Step one:

Create a new layer. Then pick a random brush, doesn't matter what color, and paint it on the layer, then hide that layer. (for reference this will be layer 1)

 

Step two:

Create a new layer. Apply Image, then go to Layer -> Create Clipping Mask. (for reference this will be layer 2)

 

Step three:

Unhide layer 1, then move layer 2 around till u get something that looks good.