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ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR CS2
User Guide
To create opacity masks
• To create a mask from an existing object, select at least two objects or groups, and choose Make Opacity Mask
from the Transparency palette menu. The topmost selected object or group is used as the mask.
• To create an empty mask, select a single object or group, or target a layer in the Layers palette. Then double-click
directly to the right of the thumbnail in the Transparency palette. If the thumbnail isn’t visible, choose Show
Thumbnails from the palette menu. An empty mask is created and Illustrator automatically enters mask-editing
mode. Use the drawing tools to draw a mask shape. Click the artwork thumbnail (left thumbnail) in the Trans-
parency palette to exit mask-editing mode.
Note: TheClipoptionsetsthemaskbackgroundtoblack.Therefore,blackobjects,suchasblacktype,usedtocreatean
opacitymaskwiththeClipoptionselectedwillnotbevisible.Toseetheobjects,useadifferentcolorordeselecttheClip
option.
See also
“About the Transparency palette” on page 243
“About targeting” on page 420
To work with opacity masks
You can edit a masking object to change the shape or transparency of the mask. You can also unlink and relink a
mask, deactivate and reactivate a mask, or remove a mask altogether.
• To edit a masking object, click the mask thumbnail (right thumbnail) in the Transparency palette. 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 palette menu.) Then use any of the Illustrator
editing tools and techniques to edit the mask. Click the artwork thumbnail (left thumbnail) in the Transparency
palette to exit mask-editing mode.
• To unlink a mask, target the masked artwork in the Layers palette, and then click the link symbol between the
thumbnails in the Transparency palette. Alternatively, select Unlink Opacity Mask from the Transparency palette
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 palette, and then click the area between the thumbnails
in the Transparency palette. Alternatively, select Link Opacity Mask from the Transparency palette menu.
• To deactivate a mask, target the masked artwork in the Layers palette, and then shift-click the mask thumbnail
(right thumbnail) in the Transparency palette. Alternatively, select Disable Opacity Mask from the Transparency
palette menu. When the opacity mask is deactivated, a red x appears over the mask thumbnail in the Transparency
palette.
• To reactivate a mask, target the masked artwork in the Layers palette, and then shift-click the mask thumbnail in
the Transparency palette. Alternatively, select Enable Opacity Mask from the Transparency palette menu.
• To remove an opacity mask, target the masked artwork in the Layers palette, and then select Release Opacity Mask
from the Transparency palette menu. The masking object reappears on top of the objects that were masked.
See also
“About the Transparency palette” on page 243
“About targeting” on page 420
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