Introduction
Clipping Paths and Opacity Masks is used to reveal or hide the artwork without deleting any paths. This technique allows for easy revisions and edits.
Difference between a Clipping Path and an Opacity Mask:
• Clipping Paths are Binary (on or off) operations applied against all paths/objects within a layer. This can even include sub-layers with separately defined Clipping Paths.
• Opacity Masks are gray-scale Maps applied against individual paths/objects only. The only exception is that an Opacity Mask may be applied against a set of objects if they are Grouped.
It may be easier to understand with this simple example
The original art with no opacity or clipping applied is on the left side. In the middle art, there is a star shaped Clipping Path to the layer containing the turquoise circle path. Because Clipping Paths is a yes or no concept, the operation only recognizes if there is or if there is not a path. The circle is revealed where there is a path, and hidden in the absence of that path.
In the right side I have applied an Opacity Mask to the turquoise circle path. Because Opacity Masks recognize the full range of black to white, Here, I used a gradient to show the range of values between full opacity and no opacity. We can create Opacity Masks of any solid shade of grey to assign different percentages of transparency/opacity. The default settings for Opacity Masks are: white is visible, black invisible, all the greys in-between relate accordingly.
Part 1: Clipping Paths
Clipping Paths can be used for:
• Cropping an entire piece of artwork to the Destination. You can Clip the artwork to the correct dimensions plus the appropriate bleed.
• Revealing patterns, textures, or backgrounds within an area (and thus excluding it in other areas) without deleting any paths or objects.
Step 1
We are going to Clip the background shown below to a specific shape. Both the turquoise and the jellyfish are in the same Layer.
Step 2
Create a path or shape to Clip to. I’ve set the shape I want to clip as solid black. I usually draw this path unfilled, with a thin stroke so that I can see beneath it for accuracy.
Step 3
Move the Path you want to clip the layer to the top of the layer and click on Make/Release Clipping Mask button at the bottom of the Layers panel. The Icon shows an outlined circle and square with their union shaded in. Be sure to select the layer that you want to apply the Clipping Path to, in this example it is “Layer 2,” not the path itself.
After applying the Clipping Path only the artwork directly beneath the Path is revealed.
The Clipping Path you made may not be perfectly aligned. You can move it around by grabbing the Path. You can also the individual control points! You can release the Clipping Path by selecting the Clipping Path and clicking on the same icon that created it in the Layers panel. Or to completely remove it you can drag the path into the Trashcan in the Layers panel.
Part 2: Opacity Masks
Step 1
Place a star shape in front of the freshly Clipped background. We are going to add some spots to the star shape. Outline the spots at first so you can see where they overlap the white background.
Step 2
Select the star and copy it and Paste in Front. Then apply a simple gradient with the Gradient panel. We are going to use this as the Opacity Mask.
Step 3
Cut the new gradient shape to remove it from the artwork and keep it in the Clipboard. After choosing the white dots and Group them. Go to the Transparency panel and double-click in the blank area next to Thumbnail of the dots.
Select the path/object/group that you want to apply the Opacity Mask, double-click in the Transparency panel to activate the Mask Layer, as shown below.
Step 4
After applying an Opacity Mask to the Group of dots, Paste in Front again in this Opacity Mask area. Command + F is Paste in Front and Command + B is Paste in Back. When you paste into the Opacity Mask you won’t see it on the Artboard, but a preview of the shape(s) will show up in the Transparency panel, as shown below.
You will notice an icon of a Chain Link in between the two. This means if you move the artwork the Mask moves with it. If they are unlocked (by clicking on the icon) you can move the artwork independently of the Mask.
By clicking Invert Mask in the Transparency panel changes whether black or white acts as the transparent or visible end of the spectrum and vice-versa.
Add some bright white highlights with no Mask to make the Jellyfish pop as well as tone down the background and add a bit of gradient to the tentacles.
And here’s the final product!
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