Creating and releasing clipping masks
You can make a clipping set from a selection of two or more objects with the Object > Clipping Mask > Make command, or you can make a layer or group a clipping set using the Layers palette. A masking item can consist of a single or compound path, type, or a group or layer that contains only those object types. (See Using clipping masks to change the shape of objects for guidelines.) You can also make semitransparent masks with the Transparency palette. (See Creating and editing opacity masks.)
To mask objects: - Do one of the following:
- Select the object you want to use as a clipping mask and the objects you want to mask. To use more than one object as a clipping mask, group the items first. Make sure the masking object or group is above the others in the stacking order and overlaps the areas of the object(s) you want to mask. Choose Object > Clipping Mask > Make. The clipping set is grouped.
Note: When you mask objects on different layers, the selected objects move into a group in the clipping mask's layer in the Layers palette. - In the Layers palette, select (highlight) a layer or group listing. Click the Make/Release Clipping Masks button at the bottom of the Layers palette, or choose Make Clipping Mask from the Layers palette menu.
The clipping mask loses its paint attributes and is assigned a fill and stroke value of None.
To release a clipping mask: - Do one of the following:
- Select the clipping mask with the selection tool, and choose Object > Clipping Mask > Release.
- In the Layers palette, select the target icon or click in the selection column adjacent to the object that you no longer want to use as a clipping mask. Alternatively, you can select the layer or group listing that the clipping mask is located within. Choose Object > Clipping Mask > Release.
- Select (highlight) the layer or group listing that you no longer want to use as a clipping mask. Click the Make/Release Clipping Masks button at the bottom of the palette, or choose Release Clipping Mask from the palette menu or Object > Clipping Mask > Release from the application menu.
Because the clipping mask was assigned a fill and stroke value of None, it is now not visible unless you select it or assign it new paint attributes.
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