Adobe Illustrator CC 2015 - Manual (Page 219)

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Painting
Last updated 6/5/2015
Note: The Clip option sets the mask background to black. Therefore, black objects, such as black type, used to create an
opacity mask with the Clip option selected will not be visible. To see the objects, use a different color or deselect the Clip
option.
Convert an existing object into an opacity mask
❖ Select at least two objects or groups, and choose Make Opacity Mask from the Transparency panel menu. The
topmost selected object or group is used as the mask.
Edit a masking object
You can edit a masking object to change the shape or transparency of the mask.
1 Click the masking object’s thumbnail (right thumbnail) in the Transparency panel.
2 Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Mac OS) the mask thumbnail to hide all other artwork in the document
window. (If the thumbnails aren’t visible, choose Show Thumbnails from the panel menu.)
3 Use any of the Illustrator editing tools and techniques to edit the mask.
4 Click the masked artwork’s thumbnail (left thumbnail) in the Transparency panel to exit mask-editing mode.
Unlink or relink an opacity mask
• To unlink a mask, target the masked artwork in the Layers panel, and then click the link symbol between the
thumbnails in the Transparency panel. Alternatively, select Unlink Opacity Mask from the Transparency panel
menu.
The masking object is locked in position and size, and the masked objects can be moved and resized independently
of the mask.
• To relink a mask, target the masked artwork in the Layers panel, and then click the area between the thumbnails in
the Transparency panel. Alternatively, select Link Opacity Mask from the Transparency panel menu.
Deactivate or reactivate an opacity mask
You can deactivate a mask to remove the transparency it creates.
• To deactivate a mask, target the masked artwork in the Layers panel, and then Shift-click the masking object’s
thumbnail (right thumbnail) in the Transparency panel. Alternatively, select Disable Opacity Mask from the
Transparency panel menu. When the opacity mask is deactivated, a red x appears over the mask thumbnail in the
Transparency panel.
• To reactivate a mask, target the masked artwork in the Layers panel, and then Shift-click the masking object’s
thumbnail in the Transparency panel. Alternatively, select Enable Opacity Mask from the Transparency panel menu.
Remove an opacity mask
❖ Target the masked artwork in the Layers panel, and then select Release Opacity Mask from the Transparency panel
menu.
The masking object reappears on top of the objects that were masked.
Clip or invert an opacity mask
1 Target the masked artwork in the Layers panel.