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Creating clipping masks


    A clipping mask is an object or group of objects whose shape masks artwork below it so that only artwork within the shape is visible--in effect, clipping the artwork to the shape of the mask. You can create a clipping mask to control how artwork on a layer is hidden and revealed.

    A clipping set is a collection of items in the Layers palette consisting of one or more levels (such as a layer and a group), one or more clipping masks, and one or more objects that are masked by the clipping masks.

    The following guidelines apply to clipping masks:

    • A clipping mask and the objects to be masked must be in the same layer or group in the Layers palette.
    • A top-level layer cannot be a clipping mask. However, you can put a clipping mask inside a top-level layer along with artwork to be masked below it.
    • The first object in the layer or group becomes the clipping mask for everything that is a subset of the layer or group the clipping mask is in. For example, if a clipping mask is the first item in Layer 1, all objects in layers and groups within Layer 1 are masked.
    • Objects in the clipping path are indicated with a dotted line in the Layers palette.
    • Regardless of its previous attributes, a clipping mask object changes to an object with no fill or stroke.
    • The clipping mask and the artwork you want to mask must be in the same layer or group in the Layers palette.
    • The clipping mask is always at the top of the clipping set. Moving the mask does not change the appearance or masking.

To create a clipping set:

  1. In the Layers palette, select the layer or group that contains the items that you want to become the clipping set. The topmost object will be the clipping mask.
  2. Click the Make/Release Clipping Masks button  the Make/Release Clipping Masks button at the bottom of the Layers palette, or choose Make Clipping Mask from the Layers palette menu.

To convert a clipping mask back to an object:

  1. Select the layer or group that contains the clipping mask.
  2. Click the Make/Release Clipping Masks button  the Make/Release Clipping Masks button at the bottom of the Layers palette, or choose Release Clipping Mask from the Layers palette menu.