Illustrator CC: Visual QuickStart Guide (2014 release)

26. Clipping Masks

In This Chapter

Creating a clipping set

Selecting objects in a clipping set

Adding objects to, and deleting them from, a clipping set

Releasing a clipping set

When objects are put in a clipping set, the topmost object (called the “clipping path”) crops the objects or images that are below it, like a picture frame or mat. Parts of objects that extend outside the clipping path object are hidden and don’t print. This mechanism allows you to fit multiple objects within the confines of a shape without having to spend time cropping and reshaping them. The clipping path and the masked objects are referred to collectively as a “clipping ...