Working with Masks

Clipping Mask

• To create a clipping mask, first, select both the object (e.g., an image) and the shape (e.g., a circle) that you want to use as the mask;
• Align them and go to Object > Clipping Mask > Make or use the option from the Properties Panel;
• The mask will hide everything outside the selected shape, revealing only what's inside;
• You can adjust the size or position of both the mask and the object separately;

Opacity Mask

• Create two objects (e.g., shapes with different colors) and open the Transparency Panel from the Window menu;
• Double-click on the mask icon in the Transparency Panel to create an opacity mask;
• The rule for opacity masks is:
  • Areas filled with black are hidden;
  • White areas are visible;
  • Gray areas have varying transparency levels;
• You can use gradient fills to create a smooth transition between visible and hidden areas. A gradient from black to white will gradually reveal the object, with black hiding it and white showing it;
• This method allows for non-destructive editing, giving more control over what parts of the object are shown or hidden.

Let's put that into practice!

• When editing an opacity mask, you are in "mask mode" and cannot select normal objects;
• To return to the normal layer, click the object thumbnail icon in the Transparency Panel to stop editing the opacity mask;
• For the shadow effect, apply a gradient where the darker part of the object should appear;
• For highlights, create another mask and adjust the gradient so the lighter areas show through;
• After applying the masks to both the shadow and highlight versions, the final object shows more depth, with distinct shadow and highlight areas compared to the original.

Task

Download the Practice Crocodile File file attached to this chapter and add some highlights and shadows using the technique above. Since it's a vector file format, you might need to group everything together!