Expert: Scott Valentine - 10/8/2007

Question
Hi
How do I fill an autoshape with a pre-existing (.gif) picture in Photoshop?  
Thanks
Jill

Answer
Thanks for your question, Jill. As with almost everything in Photoshop, there are number of ways to get what you want.

I will make some assumptions about your workspace; Photoshop CS or later, you are working in RGB 8-bit space, your GIF is a separate file, and you want to put the GIF into a new layer in your working document. Also be sure to have your layers panel open. If any of these are not true, follow up with me and I'll help you make changes.

Here's one method...
In your working document, create a new, empty layer and make sure it's the one selected. Open your GIF file as a separate document, then convert it to RGB (Image > Mode > RGB). Using the move tool, click and hold on the GIF image and drag it to the new, blank layer in your working document.

With the GIF layer highlighted, create a vector mask (Layer > Vector Mask > Hide All). This will hide your image behind the mask. On your layer panel, you should now see a mask thumbnail, filled with gray. Click once on the vector mask thumbnail to make sure it's selected.

Now you can go to your autshapes and draw your shape on the canvas. This should reveal the image anywhere your shape exists. You can then use the transform tool to change the size, aspect ratio, and rotation of the vector shape. Click the GIF image thumbnail in the layer panel to deselect the vector mask, so you can position the picture on your canvas.

You can always go back to the vector mask thumbnail to make further adjustments.

I hope this helps - if you have other questions, please feel free to ask!

-Scott