Clipping masks with CS4

[skrappinmomma]

I need help! I just got CS4, and have never used Photoshop before. I have some photomasks that I have downloaded, as well as a tutorial on how to use them. I cannot figure it out, though. I can add a layer, but can't figure out how to add one using another image (the mask). Anytime I open another image, it does so in another window. My tutorial says to 'drag the mask on as another layer', but when I drag the mask onto the screen, it opens it as a separate project on another tab. I'm sure there's an obvious step somewhere that I'm somehow missing, but darn if I can figure out what it is...I would love it if someone could enlighten me!

Thanks.

[Culann]

What platform are you on (since the two handle the windows differently). In either case, select the mask layer from your open mask file, and use the select tool to drag it (by selecting the image itself, not the thumbnail in the layers palette) into the other file's window.
HTH

[Tamlin]

The important thing is to drag the mask image into the target image's window, not onto the Photoshop "workspace" (the area that is usually coloured light grey).

Another method you could use, if you're not comfortable using the Move tool to drag'n'drop:

1. Open both images in Photoshop - let's call them SourceImage.jpg and TargetImage.jpg
2. Click on SourceImage.jpg to make it the active document
3. From the menu, select Select > All or press Ctrl+A on the keyboard (Command+A on a Mac)
4. From the menu, select Edit > Copy or press Ctrl+C (Command+C) on the keyboard
5. Click on TargetImage.jpg to make it the active document
6. From the menu, select Edit > Paste or press Ctrl+V (Command+V) on the keyboard
7. A copy of SourceImage.jpg will appear in TargetImage.jpg as a new layer