Hi everyone, this is Monique, wishing you all a Happy Valentines Day!

On any page I create I always seem to use a clipping mask of some sort!

I will fill a frame with a rectangle shape, so I can clip my photo to fit into the frame. I will clip a paper from the kit I’m using to a swirl shape in any colour, to keep the whole look coordinated.

The very simple technique I would like to share with you today, is how to use the basic shapes that come with your program, to easily crop photos and papers into interesting shapes! In Photoshop these shapes are called Custom Shapes, and I will show you how to use them here. Screen shots are made using PSE 7 on a PC, but these instructions should work for any version of Photoshop on any computer!

1. Edit your photo in any way you like, besides cropping it.
2. Drag your photo onto your layout.
3. Choose the custom shape tool. It is in the left hand Tool Bar, under the Rectangle Shape Tool. Right click on the rectangle tool and select custom shape. It should look like this:
4. In the Options Bar at the top of your screen, drop down the shape selector and choose the little double arrows (this is the Options menu). Make sure that “All Elements Shapes” is selected. It should look like this:
5. Pick any shape you’d like. For photos it’s best to pick a shape that looks filled in. If you want to use a shape to fill with colour or paper, you can choose any shape you’d like. Here are some of my favourites:
6. Create a new layer underneath your photo layer. With this new layer selected, draw your shape in any size you’d like. You need to hold shift in order not to distort the shape. Simplify layer by right clicking on layer and choose Simplify Layer.
7. With your photo layer selected, now hit Ctrl-g (Ctrl-Alt-G in CS2) to create a clipping mask. You can see that your photo conforms to your shape. It should look like this:
8. You can now finish your layout any way you’d like!

In PSP you need to look for the Preset Shape Tool. I found this tutorial online, but as I’ve never used PSP, I’m not sure if it’s any good! I don’t think the GIMP has any preset shapes, but you can draw your own shape, or use any shape you can find, like an element (flower, tag etc.) from any kit and still use it as a clipping mask for your photo(s)! Don’t forget to credit the designer if you do! If you have questions about the program you use, try this thread in the forum. One of our other members might be able to help!

So, your challenge this week is, to make a page using a custom shape as a clipping mask. You can have more than one photo, as long as at least one of them is cropped into a shape!

To help you get inspired, here’s my take on the this challenge, using the NEW So Totally Teen Collab by Designs by Tater and Mickey B. Designs:

Here are two more examples from our wonderful CT members:

By Denise (neeceebee), using the NEW Tiny Dancer Collab by Britt-ish Designs, Dirty Feet Designs and Jeni Hopewell, and the Electric Pop Alpha by Britt-ish Designs:

By Christy (TheWerners), using Hang In There, Used and Abused Paper Pack, Gracefully Aged paper, Edge to Edge Word Art, all by Britt-ish Designs, and the NEW Retro Spring Collab by WM [squared] Designs And Digi Keepsakes:

I can’t wait to see what YOU come up with!

Create a layout unique to this challenge and post it in the Saturday Special Gallery. Then post a link to your page in this thread in the forum to earn a point for your challenge! You can earn an extra point by using a newly released product from the SM Shop, or if I pick your entry as my favourite by the end of the month! You have until the end of this month to finish and post your page. You don’t have to use ScrapMatters products, but we love it if you do!