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. You 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: - 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.
- 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.
- 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
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.
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