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1. Re: Clipping Masks and Grouping
Mike Gondek2 Aug 3, 2011 12:39 PM (in response to Rodieck)Illustrator in CS4 changed how masks works, and this type of problem has begun to surface. An aggravating part I find is that an undo often does not put the file back to the previous state, when it comes to masks.
Hard to pinpoint exactly what is causing this to happen. Hope this advice will be useful:
- After making a mask the result automatically creates a group. When you want to your masked grouped with other elements, make sure to use the solid arrow tool so you are selecting entire group, and watch the layers palette, as the colored dots will tell you waht layers your selections are coming from.
- When running into a problem, you can often fix them br dragging the mask above the items you want inside the mask in the layers palette, by dragging the colored dots at the right of the layer name.
- When you want to edit the contents of a mask, there is a edit contents button you want to become familiar with. That is the second button after the word group in the screenshot below. Keep an eye on what you have selected, that word group in this case confirms that I had an entire masked group selected, and not just the contents.
- I also use the hide command to hide exactly what I need, then I unhide all, and make a group or mask from the recently unhidden elements.
Sorry my reply could not be more concise, but you bring a good question that is not an easy answer.
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2. Re: Clipping Masks and Grouping
Monika Gause Aug 3, 2011 10:52 AM (in response to Rodieck)There are two types of clipping masks. One is object based, it automatically creates a group. The second one is a layer based mask. This one isn't a group, but instead clips all objects on a particular layer.
That second one is the type you created. But it cannot be contained in another group.
What you need to do is create an object based clipping mask instead (don't worry you can use the same objects you already have. You only need to use the command Object > Clipping mask > Make instead of the button in the layer panel.
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3. Re: Clipping Masks and Grouping
Rodieck Aug 3, 2011 3:35 PM (in response to Monika Gause)Thank you very much, Monica -- your approach has fixed my problem. It may have also given me a clue as to "when to use a menu instead of a panel?" question which has been eluding me for some time.
Mike, you have given me a lot of useful info as well, and I have saved it to ponder further.
Regards,
Lyell
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4. Re: Clipping Masks and Grouping
Monika Gause Aug 3, 2011 4:01 PM (in response to Rodieck)You're welcome. Nice zebra btw.





