Adobe Illustrator CC 2015 - Manual (Page 289)

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Reshaping objects
Last updated 6/5/2015
Create a clipping mask for a group or layer
1 Create the object you want to use as the mask.
This object is called the clipping path. Only vector objects can be clipping paths.
2 Move the clipping path and the objects you want to mask into a layer or group.
3 In the Layers panel, make sure that the masking object is at the top of the group or layer, and then click the name of
the layer or group.
4 Click the Make/Release Clipping Masks button at the bottom of the Layers panel or select Make Clipping Mask from
the Layers panel menu.
Edit a clipping mask
1 In the Layers panel, select and target the clipping path. Or, select the clipping set and choose Object > Clipping Mask
> Edit Mask.
2 Do any of the following:
• Move the clipping path by dragging the object’s center reference point with the Direct Selection tool.
• Reshape the clipping path using the Direct Selection tool.
• Apply a fill and stroke to a clipping path.
To select all clipping paths in a document, deselect all artwork. Then choose Select > Object > Clipping Masks.
Edit paths within a clipping set
To edit portions of a path that fall outside of the clipping mask, you must first select the specific path within in the
clipping mask boundary, and then edit the path.
1 Do one of the following:
• Target the path in the Layers panel.
• Position the Direct Selection tool over a portion of the path that appears within the mask. When the path’s outline
appears, click it.
Note: To select a clipped path by clicking it, you must click the portion of it that appears inside the mask.
2 Edit the path.
Add or remove an object from masked artwork
❖ In the Layers panel, drag the object into or out of the group or layer that contains the clipping path.
Release objects from a clipping mask
❖ Do one of the following:
• Select the group that contains the clipping mask, and choose Object > Clipping Mask > Release.
• In the Layers panel, click the name of the group or layer that contains the clipping mask. Click the Make/Release
Clipping Masks button at the bottom of the panel, or select Release Clipping Mask from the panel 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.