How Do You Resize a Clipping Mask in Photoshop?

Resizing a clipping mask in Photoshop depends on what you want to resize: the masked content or the mask itself. Let's explore both scenarios.

Resizing the Content Within a Clipping Mask

To resize the image within a clipping mask without affecting the mask's shape, follow these steps:

1. Select the layer: In the Layers panel, select the layer containing the image you want to resize. Note that this layer should be below the layer that creates the clipping mask.
2. Free Transform: Press Ctrl+T (Windows) or Cmd+T (macOS) to activate the Free Transform tool. You'll see bounding boxes appear around your image.
3. Resize: Click and drag the corner handles to resize the image proportionally. Hold down Shift to maintain aspect ratio. To resize non-proportionally, drag the individual handles.
4. Commit: Press Enter (Windows) or Return (macOS) to apply the transformation.

Resizing the Clipping Mask Itself

To resize the clipping mask, changing its shape and size:

1. Select the Mask: In the Layers panel, click the mask thumbnail of the clipping mask layer. This will select the mask itself.
2. Free Transform: Press Ctrl+T (Windows) or Cmd+T (macOS) to activate Free Transform.
3. Resize: Adjust the handles of the bounding box to resize your mask. Again, hold Shift for proportional resizing.
4. Commit: Press Enter (Windows) or Return (macOS) to apply the changes.

Important Considerations:

• Linked vs. Unlinked: If the image and mask are linked (a chain icon appears between them in the Layers panel), resizing one will resize the other. To resize independently, click the chain link to unlink them. (See Reddit example: https://www.reddit.com/r/photoshop/comments/1944ikw/how_do_i_resize_the_bounding_box_of_a_layer_mask/)
• Vector Masks: Using vector masks instead of raster masks can provide more flexibility when resizing a canvas. (https://graphicdesign.stackexchange.com/questions/53615/photoshop-layer-masks-very-unpractical-when-resizing-canvas-is-there-a-better-w)

Remember to always work on a copy of your image to avoid accidentally damaging the original. The YouTube video reference demonstrates the practical application of resizing a clipping mask, although it doesn't explicitly cover all scenarios mentioned above.