A Way To Invert A Clipping Mask?

Hey all. Can this be done - inverting a clipping mask?
Basically, when you clip an image, the outside junk gets hidden. I would like the reverse effect where the inside stuff is hidden. Any way to do this?
And another question: is there a way to cleanly erase around an object in Illustrator? In Photoshop one can place a marquee around an image, then invert the marque to delete the stuff around it. Is there a way of doing this in Illustrator without using the divide pathfinder command?
I'd like to erase around a bunch of overlapping object without having to divide them, because they'll all end up as separate slices, which is not what I want.
Thanks,
B.

B,
To hide what is inside and show what is outside a path, you may consider Transparency palette flyout>Make Opacity Mask (Clip unticked, Invert ticked/unticked for white/black path).
To (more or less) get rid of the stuff round a Clipping Path/Mask, you may try the destructive deed, with the Clipping Mask selected:
1) In the Transparency palette/panel dropdown list select anything but Normal (Multiply is fine),
2) Object>Flatten Transparency, just keep the defaults including 100% Vector,
3) Shudder.
This should reduce the size to the Bounding Box of the Clipping Path.

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Best way to make a clipping mask with indesign drawn vector shapes?

What is the best way to create a clipping mask with vector art that is drawn inside of indesign?
I have a group of vector shapes to paste into a rounded corner box. This art is grouped.
What i tried:
-create the rounded corner box i want the art inside
-cut art
-edit > paste-into
This worked, but i could not figure out how to move the artwork once it was pasted into the shape. With the direct select tool i could move the individual objects, but not the group of objects. Any ideas?
Is this the best way to acomplish what i'm trying to do?
Thanks!

Yopu don't mention the version of ID, which makes a difference here.
Paste Into is correct. In CS5 you can then use the content grabber donut to move the group inside the frame. In all versions you should be able to select the frame, tehn use Object > Select > Content to get the group, or use the button for that onthe Control Panel. Before CS5 you'll need to use the arrow keys or grab the center spot withthe mouse to move the group.

Clip Mask and MovieClip pivot questions

Two more beginner questions:
1) What's the easiest way to invert a clipping mask for a
MovieClip in ActionScript? I tried using a ColorTransformMatrix to
invert the alpha of the mask MovieClip, but it didn't work (looks
like the clip mask simply does nothing where there are no filled
shapes). I would like to add a graphic everywhere EXCEPT within the
area of an animated MovieClip, and due to various requirements I
cannot simply place it behind that MovieClip.
2) Is there a way to set the pivot of a MovieClip in relation
to the animated drawings/frames? It looks like the "origin" of a
movieclip is the lower left-most corner of all the bounding boxes
of all the frames of animation in my MovieClip. So if I set the _x
and _y of a MovieClip in ActionScript to 150,150 it places the
lowerleft-hand corner there instead of what I would like to be
logical center of the MovieClip (say, center of a wheelbase of a
car, or center of the feet of a person, or center of mass of a
rock). I am fine with dialing in an offset, but just wondering if
there is a cleaner way to do it (esp. if I happen to add more
animation frames or replace drawings and the bounding box changes
size).
Thanks,
Ken

Ah, I figured everything out.
1) Actually, the ColorTransformMatrix does work, but I didn't
realize that alpha was 0-255, not 0-1 (you'd think after being
bitten by MovieClip scales being 100 = 100% instead of 1 = 100%,
I'd have guessed, but...). So a ColorTransformMatrix of
(1 0 0 0 0)
(0 1 0 0 0)
(0 0 1 0 0)
(0 0 0 -1 255)
applied to the mask will successfully invert it. Nice.
2) Apparently I had previously messed up grabbing all the
images and dragging them - I had forgotten to turn onion skinning
to "onion all" so that I could actually see everything (all my
images are all on top of each other so it wasn't obvious I didn't
have everything visible). I had been selecting all the frames and
dragging the images around in relation to the registration point,
but only the last 3 frames were actually moving, and they happened
to be a part of the animation I didn't bother triggering while
testing. Oops.
Thanks much for your help.
Ken

Cropping Images with Clipping Masks | Learn Illustrator CS6 | Adobe TV

In this video you will learn a quick and easy method for cropping images in Adobe Illustrator CS6 and CS5. Using clipping masks allows you to retain the area of the image you cropped out as well as modify the clipping path later on.
http://adobe.ly/V8tW7S

Is there a way to make a clipping mask for a many-layered image without collapsing all the layers? I'd love to keep my image as is (it's quite complex), I just want to crop the entire thing.
thanks!

Is it possible to make clipping masks only selectable within their objects?

I sometimes work with files which have multiple objects which contain enormous clipping masks. This means whenever I go to drag-select multiple objects on a board it will always select multiple clipping masks, and essentially render this mode of selection useless.
Is there any way to ensure that clipping masks are only ever selected within the bounds of their containing object?
Thanks,
Felix

Sure.
So I'll have a page full of pushpoints, with clipping masks applied to each to provide a photographic backdrop:
But then if I try and select the adjacent pushpoint elements, it will also select the clipping masks, despite the fact that it doesn't actually touch its containing object.
This has lead to quite a bit of inconvenience in many circumstances. Any idea, apart from locking the layers? I need the clipping masks to also be selected when their container layer is selected, but not the rest.
Thanks in advance!

Warping with clipping mask

Hi,
Does anyone know if there is a way to warp a clipping mask on the mask itself? Whenever I am warping a clipping mask the borders of the warp are on the edges of the artwork in the mask. And not on the mask itself. Often times this distorts the artwork in unfavorable ways.
Thanks in advance.

Acidwire,
I believe something is ailing Illy. You may have a look at the list.
The following is a general list of things you may try when the issue is not in a specific file, and when it is not caused by issues with opening a file from external media, see below. You may have tried/done some of them already; 1) and 2) are the easy ones for temporary strangenesses, and 3) and 4) are specifically aimed at possibly corrupt preferences); 5) is a list in itself, and 6) is the last resort.
If possible/applicable, you should save current artwork first, of course.
1) Close down Illy and open again;
2) Restart the computer (you may do that up to at least 5 times);
3) Close down Illy and press Ctrl+Alt+Shift/Cmd+Option+Shift during startup (easy but irreversible);
4) Move the folder (follow the link with that name) with Illy closed (more tedious but also more thorough and reversible);
5) Look through and try out the relevant among the Other options (follow the link with that name, Item 7) is a list of usual suspects among other applications that may disturb and confuse Illy, Item 15) applies to CC, CS6, and maybe CS5);
Even more seriously, you may:
6) Uninstall, run the Cleaner Tool (if you have CS3/CS4/CS5/CS6/CC), and reinstall.
http://www.adobe.com/support/contact/cscleanertool.html
External media: It is always recommended here to open/save from/to own hard disk, and to copy from/to networks and removable media. You may be lucky (for a while), but the chances of file corruption and other unpleasantnesses are immensely greater when you use anything but the harddisk, and it is better to be safe than sorry.
In addition to the (far greater) risk of file corruption, some issues are mentioned here:
http://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/kb/illustrator-support-networks-removable-media.html

CS3 Inverting a Clipping Path

Is there a way to invert a clipping path when you goof and you make the clipping path of the outside accidently instead of the inside? Thanks.

Type "A" then select the path. Make sure the anchors are visible.
Refer to this screenshot
The path choices are in options bar near the top left (Window: Options)

Should I use a clipping mask for this? Am I approaching this the wrong way?

Greetings and Salutations!
I am currently creating some cycling jerseys for my friends and I. Im fairly new to Illustrator, so I created my "Proof" in Photoshop.
This is what it is suppose to look like.
Now that the proof got a thumbs up, i need to vectorize this and get it ready for print.
Though I've run into a small issue. Im not sure exactly how I should proceed in correcting this.
I lay the outline of the Lion down
I then created a "fill" layer with an opacity of 50%
Together they form the feline version of Voltron
Now I need to insert the yellow Lion. Thus I duplicate both layers and change the light blue to a yellow, and this happens due to the opacity of the "fill" layer
You can see the yellow lion in behind the blue lion! Expected since i have the fill layer at 50%!
I dont know how to correct this. I was thinking of making a clipping mask for Lion #2
But wasnt sure if thats what i needed to do. Can anyone give me advice?
I feel like I am toying with unknown technology and ive accidentally created a monster! Halp before it gains consciousness!

add a white shape behind black design.

Is it possible to make a transparent section inside an existing clipping mask?

Hi,
I would like to make the words 'heather hall' transparent knocking through the clipping mask it sits upon.
Is this possible please?
Many thanks,
Ben

Ben,
A very simple way is to change the colour of heather hall to black, then select everything and in the Transparency Palette flyout click Make Opacity Mask with Clip and Invert mask unticked.
heather hall may be live Type or a Group of paths or a Compound Path made of the individual letter paths/groups/compound paths.

Layer clipping mask help

having trouble with layer clipping masks - I guess I've never really used them before. I want to make a clipping mask from a layer but that layer has more than one path on it. It doesn't seem to be working. Does it need to be a single one? Can I use a compound or a group(i've tried both but they didn't work for me...) help?
also - Is there a way to invert the mask?
thanks!

Hi Oompal
Simple, let´s see if I´ve understood your problem
Create any shape and position where you like. Now go to layers pallete and click create clipping layer button (bottom of the layer, the first left buttom). That´s it
Now that shape will be used as clipping layer, and everithing you create inside this layers will be clipped.
Am I right?
Guidelines: Path intended to be a clipping shape must be the topmost of the layers, be selected on the artboard and its layer must be highlighted on the layers pallete to enable the action.

Clipping Mask to hide certain area of image

Hi All,
I would be grateful if anyone could help me to figure out how to clip mask only 1 polygon with cat heads because my cat image is so big until it appears on other polygons. Attached below is my screen shot for better understanding. Any tips and help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Apologise for my earlier mail with wrong title as "layer mask".

One way would be to:
1. Ctrl click on the layer 1 thumbnail in the layers panel
    to load a selection of the polygons.
2. Make layer 2 active, then alt click on the add layer mask icon at the bottom
   of the layers panel. (this adds an inverted mask which hides all)
3. Set the foreground color to white by pressing the D key and then pressing the X key.
4. Make sure the layer mask is active and paint with your brush on the polygon
   that you want the cat heads in.
MTSTUNER

Clipping mask with appearances?

Hi all, I was trying to create a clipping mask from an object that is made from two shapes, and one has appearances (thanks to Rufus Deuchler's evangelism), but I had to resort to expand appearance, then use the object as a clipping mask.
Is there really no way to keep the dynamic appearances and use a layer as a clipping mask?

You can also try using the transparency palette flyout >> Make opacity mask
Works similar to opacity masks as in Photoshop, and you can either use black for tranparent or white for tranparent dpending on if you click invert.

How do I use clipping mask to cover unwanted background?

I'm practicing illustrator myself. I have a book for illustrator hoping it would show me step by step on how to use the masks to take away any unwanted background in a photo but it didn't do that. Can anyone teach me how or show me where to look for the information on how to use the clipping masks or other type of masks? I went to the adobe workshop video to look for the answer but it didn't show exactly as what i want to know. The image i'm practicing on is a family photo and i want to isolate everything to just one person in the photo so how can I do that using clipping mask? Thanks!!

oh~~~ so i still need to use pen tool to draw the shape out. I thought there's something i could use to make the shape easily. Stupid me XD
I was wondering if you could help me more...can you give me a rule of thumb like when is best to use illustrator to edit image or photoshop?
Thanks for your tip! I really appreciate it!!
=D
Sometimes the only way to stay sane is to go a little crazy. -
"Girl, Interrupted"
It is the journey itself which makes up your life. -
Tiresias, the blind prophet, "The Odyssey"
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 2010 02:00:41 -0700
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: How do I use clipping mask to cover unwanted background?
Draw the mask using the pen tool over the image. Select both the drawn mask AND image and choose Object > Clipping Mask > Make
>

Does a Clipping Mask effect just one layer?

Hello everyone ... Level: Newbie OS: Win7 64bit Ia: Cs6
Once I use a Clipping Mask on a layer is the entire document covered in a mask?
And/or is all the artwork from then on inside the mask?
I've read about how to add and how to remove art from a mask. I've read about how to make and release and lots of other things.
So, then I went and found a lesson that contained the use of a Clipping Mask.
But I'm stuck... again.
I am suppose to Select the main shape and "just" copy it and move it down (doesn't say rather to Paste in front or back but I assumed in back ~ not that it has mattered thus far)
However, while making the main shape I used Gradient Mesh and used an Offset to create a "replica" and so when I go to Select the main shape the mesh is selected and so when I Paste (in back ~ seems most logical) and then move it down the details such as the colors of the Gradient and other such things are visible in front ~ ??
So, I have been trying to abate my problem in lots of different ways.
I have tried using the Pen tool to draw behind the main shape, I've tried making a New Layer and placing it above and below and inbetween the main shape layer, I've tried adding the artwork to the Mask ... I've tried everything I can think of and I've been through many an article in the manual and FAQ's to no avail.
I suppose, what I think I need to know ... is, how ... how on earth do I draw behind this main shape? Am I not able to do it becuase I am not getting behind the Mask?
(Let me apologise to those that HATE it when Newbies follow lessons/tuts and who HATE it when we come here to ask for help. I'm doing my best to learn and to find answers on my own before heading here for help)
Please lmk if you would be better able to help me with pictures of my layers and the art. Thanx so much for your time!!

Thanks as well for your patience with me! It can be difficult to communicate this way, but all we can do is try our best.
As for the issue regarding the author's "main shape"...
Here I have an object with a gradient mesh:
If you follow the directions in step 3 of the tutorial, the author creates a duplicate by going to Object > Path > Offset Path.
And then inputs "0" for the offset value.
I shifted my original gradient-meshed object down a little bit, and there you can see is the simple shape that you were seeing in the author's image. Then they just filled it with that gold gradient and scaled it down.
And as for clipping masks...
As I mentioned before, a clipping mask will only affect the objects and groups you had selected when you created it. For exhaustive information about clipping masks, see this link: http://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/clipping-masks.html
I hope this was helpful! Good luck!

Illustrator - Pattern Swatch / Clipping mask issue

I'm currently working in Illustrator CS6. I'm creating pattern swatches and have successfully created 20 - but 4 are giving me the following issue.
When I drag the perfect swatch tile into swatches it appears as so instead of the perfect tile:
"New pattern swatch 3" has a white space on the right. Which sometimes when I create the swatch takes up half of the 'swatch.'
When I go to create a shape and apply the pattern, I am left with an empty box.
When I double click to adjust the pattern I get this dialog box:
When I go to adjust the bounding box, to see where my pattern is - this crazy mess happens:
Further investigation and deleting items to see whats happening:
Bits of my pattern appear, but not sure why the other bars are there.
I'm having this issue with four very different patterns. But I have also succesfully created more complicated ones. Not sure why this is happening.
Any help is greatly appreciated!

Hey everyone,
I am in the same version, same file. I have also tried starting from scratch in another file just to make sure. Same issue.
I have templates of what i want my patterns to be, so I have tried to make the patterns both ways. Starting from my original art - expanding all shapes and making them so they will tile perfectly.
1. with clipping mask. 2. released mask, and expanded shape. 3. perfect tile.
from scratch, made to tile perfectly.
Same issue for both:
To make sure it wasn't only this one I tried a different pattern that was giving me the same error before hand.
I tried with original art which didn't work, so I quickly recreated with squares. Same tile, one time it was empty producing same issue as above. And second time it did this:
1. What tile is supposed to look like 2. Tile applied to shape - but the pattern swatch icon is empty?
Maybe this is a program bug?

A Way To Invert A Clipping Mask?

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