Masking and Clipping

Masks and clipping paths can be used to show and hide parts of objects.

Masks allow changing parts of objects to completely transparent or semi-transparent. Below is an example of a luminance mask, where white parts keep the graphics visible and black or transparent areas make the graphics fade away.

Clipping paths are like masks with few differences:

• The region inside a clipping path is visible and anything outside is not visible.
• It is not possible to have semi-transparent areas.
• Only rectangles, ellipses, paths and text can be used as clipping paths. Other objects, such as groups or bitmap images, cannot be used as clipping paths.
• If the clipped object is a hyperlink, then hidden parts are not part of the clickable area. In masks, the entire object is clickable including its hidden parts.

Masks and clipping paths always affect their parent object. Keyshape does not allow reusing them for multiple objects.

The contents of masks and clipping paths can be animated.

Creating Masks

To use an exiting object as a mask, place the object on top of another object, select them both and select the Object > Masking and Clipping > Make Mask menu command.

To create a new mask, select an object and select the Object > Insert > New Mask menu command. A new elliptical mask is created for the selected object. The elliptical mask can be modified or replaced with other content. Note that the created ellipse object is completely white, so if you edit it in the isolation mode it will not be visible against a white background.

A mask can be a luminance or an alpha mask:

• A luminance mask combines color and alpha channel values for masking.
• An alpha mask uses only alpha channel values for masking.

To change the mask type, select the mask object and change the mask type in the Property Panel. By default, masks are luminance masks.

Creating Clipping Paths

To use an exiting object as a clipping path, place the object on top of another object, select them both and select the Object > Masking and Clipping > Make Clip Path menu command.

To create a new clipping path, select an object and select the Object > Insert > New Clip Path menu command. A new elliptical clipping path is created for the selected object. The elliptical clipping path can be modified or replaced with other content.

Editing Masks and Clipping Paths

Objects inside masks and clipping paths can be edited. Select an object under a mask or a clipping path in the Object Tree to see its outline on the canvas. The shape of the object can be edited on the canvas and all its properties are visible on the Property Panel.

The Object Tree can be used to drag objects into and out from masks and clipping paths.

It is possible to edit masks and clipping paths in isolation. There are several ways to enter the isolation mode:

• Select a mask or a clipping path object in the Object Tree and press the Edit button in the Property Panel.
• Select a mask or a clipping path object and choose the Object > Edit in Isolation menu command.
• Double-click the icon of a mask or a clipping path in the Object Tree.

Deleting Masks and Clipping Paths

Masks and clipping paths can be deleted by selecting them in the Object Tree and pressing the Delete key.

It is also possible to release them, which means that the mask or clipping path is deleted, but its content is preserved. To release a mask or a clipping path, select it in the Object Tree and select the Object > Masking and Clipping > Release menu command.