Hi everyone…Amy here again for some more “Photo Fun!”  Today I’d like to share a simple way to turn your every day digital elements into fun photo masks!

I’m sure most of us are familiar with the basic clipping mask and the method by which they are created, but for those of you who aren’t–here’s a quick run-through:

• A clipping mask is created when you “clip” one layer to another by using the command CTRL+G (in PSE) or ALT+CTRL+G (in Photoshop).
• This method is often used to add your digital papers to templates and custom shapes.
• A photo mask, then, is created when you clip your photo to another layer, allowing it to take on the shape and opacity of that layer.

There are a wide variety of photo masks available for purchase, but today were going to take a look at how we can turn the digital products you already own into photo masks–creating unique photo effects in your pages.

1. Start by opening the digital element of your choice and the photo you’re going to be working with in your version of Photoshop.

2. Next resize the digital element to the size you’ll be working with for your project or page.

3. Then drag your photo onto your digital element and “clip” it to the element using CTRL+G or ALT+CTRL+G.

4. Adjust the photo size and position, so that it appears the way you want it to inside of the shape you’ve clipped it to.

5. If you want you can use your blending modes or adjust your opacity to get the effect you’re looking for.

6. Now you’ve got a custom photo mask that allows your photo to be the center of attention, while contributing to the overall theme of your page.

Using Blessed Blooms, High Tide, Three Ring Circus and Family Kits by Danielle Young Designs

You can try this same technique with your alphas, fonts, flourishes, splatters, and more–to create one-of-a-kind photo effects on your pages.

Join us next month for more photo fun!  I’ll have a Summer-Themed Project Tutorial to share with you and another excuse to have fun with those photos!

Amy Kingsford is a happy wife and blessed mother from Northern Utah who has been scrapbooking for 12 years. She teaches at Get It Scrapped and Masterful Scrapbook Design and is a creative team member for Danielle Young Designs and fellow Oscraps Designer Biograffiti.  To see more of her work visit her blog Scrappydoo. And for more “Photo Fun” join us next month to see what other tricks she has in store for you!