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Creating opacity masks


    You create the opacity mask from the topmost shape in the selected set of objects. Once the mask is created, a thumbnail of it appears in the Transparency palette next to the thumbnail of the object being masked. By default, the mask and the object are linked together (as shown by a link between the thumbnails), and move together as a unit.

    TipYou can create an opacity mask from virtually any artwork imaginable, including a gradient, mesh, or pattern (see About gradients, meshes, and blends).

To create an opacity mask:

    Do one of the following:

    • Select at least two objects or groups, and choose Make Opacity Mask in the Transparency palette menu. The topmost selected object or group is used as the mask.
    • Target a single object, group, or layer, and double-click the mask thumbnail area (directly to the right of the object thumbnail) of the Transparency palette. An empty mask is created and Illustrator automatically enters mask-editing mode. Use the drawing tools to draw a mask shape.

    Note: If you use black type to create an opacity mask with the Clip option turned on, the type will not be visible. To see the type, use a different color of type or deselect the Clip option.

To remove or disable an opacity mask:

    Select the masked artwork and do one of the following:

    • Choose Release Opacity Mask in the Transparency palette menu to remove the mask. The contents of the mask appear on top of the artwork that was masked.
    • Choose Disable Opacity Mask in the Transparency palette menu to deactivate the mask without removing it. To reactivate the mask, choose Enable Opacity Mask from the Transparency palette menu. A red x appears over the mask thumbnail in the palette.

To edit an opacity mask:

  1. Do one of the following to enter mask-editing mode:
    • Click on the mask thumbnail in the Transparency palette.
    • Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Mac OS) on a mask thumbnail to view only the mask in the document window.
  2. Use any of the Illustrator editing tools and techniques to edit the mask. Changes made to the mask are immediately visible in the Transparency palette.
  3. Click the artwork thumbnail in the Transparency palette to exit mask-editing mode.

To unlink or relink a mask:

    Select the artwork and then do one of the following:

    • Click the link symbol  the link symbol between the artwork thumbnail and the mask thumbnail in the Transparency palette. Click the area between the thumbnails again to relink the mask and artwork.
    • Choose Unlink Opacity Mask in the Transparency palette menu. To relink the mask, choose Link Opacity Mask in the Transparency palette menu.