Creating & Working with Clipping Masks Adobe Illustrator

Overview Basics of a Clipping Mask Download & Preparations Using Text to Create a Clipping Mask Using a Shape to Create a Clipping Mask

Basics of a Clipping Mask Think about the idea of a Mask – Used to hide part of something and show other parts Same thing with the Adobe Suite. Illustrator, Photoshop & InDesign are all capable of creating masks In Illustrator it is a Clipping Mask So, a clipping mask is an object whose shape masks other artwork so that only areas that lie within the shape are visible—in effect, clipping the artwork to the shape of the mask.

Downloading & Preparation Begin by making a practice folder called “ClippingMask” Navigate to the Class-Drive and download the palmtree.tif file and place it in the Clipping Mask folder Load Adobe Illustrator and create a new document and name it “ClippingPractice”

Text and Clipping Masks In Illustrator, choose File > Place Choose palmtree.tiff Click on the artboard to place the image of the palm tree Placing an outside file adds the file to the current .AI document. Navigate to the palmTree.tif file and select it Make sure the Link box is unchecked. Thr “x” means the mage is not actually on th page. Linking means the palm tree would NOT actually be on the page; instead there would be a “pointer” or shortcut, that specified how to find the image

Text and Clipping Masks Deselect everything via Select > Deselect Choose Window>Type>Character To open the Character Panel

Text and Clipping Masks Type your name, pick a typeface, set to 48 point, and white font ,mayb old English Note on color choice for Fill: The palm tree image is going to become the fill for the text. The color really doesn’t matter in this situation, white is just easier to see on top of the image. Position the text so it is on the palm tree image Position doesn’t matter, however as a rule of thumb with using a clipping mask with text, do not use images where you want the viewer to immediately recognize what it is a picture of Use images that add to the design but are not focal or important to the design

Text and Clipping Masks Once your name is in position over the palm trees, select BOTH the image and the text Can use the Selection Tool to marquee select (Click & Drag across to select both), or Shift + Click the text and the image to have both selected Choose Object > Clipping Mask > Make to get the following result:

Text and clipping masks Using the effects menu – Can also add to the new clipped mask For example, could add a drop shadow by going to Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow When working with the Effects Options, be sure to check the Preview option under the OK and Cancel buttons as to be able to edit on the fly and see the edit results.

Text and Clipping Masks For a graphic this small, remember to crop the artboard Even if saved with transparency, the edges of the graphic will be the artboard edges Saving as a .GIF or .PNG is especially important with web design work Use the Artboard Tool and crops the graphic Once done, go to File > Export > Export As Choose the clipping mask practice folder, and by the “Save as Type”, use the drop down menu to choose .PNG

Shapes and Clipping Mask Clipping Masks can also be created using the shape tools File > Place a graphic to use as the fill in the mask Draw a large ellipse, white fill, no stroke Remember: Fill color really doesn’t matter Select both Objects Object > Clipping Mask > Make

Shapes and Clipping Mask Once the clipping mask is complete – The shape can be reselected using the Selection Tool and then a stroke can be added around the shape. Can use the Stroke panel in the panels menu on the right side to increase the weight of the stroke to make it more visible