3 Types of MASKING | Illustrator Tutorial (FULL GUIDE)

In today's step by step Adobe Illustrator tutorial you'll learn how to use 3 types of masking. First you'll get overall understanding on how to hide and reveal certain parts of objects using clipping mask, draw inside mode and opacity mask and then we'll create stunning snake illustration using each one of this masks and not only.
If you're beginner, I definitely recommend you to watch this Illustrator tutorial. It might seem complicated for you, but what you'll get as result - is boosted workflow and new amazing possibilities.
There will be a lot of information to bring your illustrating and designing to brand new level of quality. This Illustrator tutorial is for beginners and advanced.
I hope today’s Adobe Illustrator CC tutorial will really help you out. Drop a comment below and let me know what you liked about this video!
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↓ VIDEO GUIDE ↓
0:00 Intro
1:24 clipping mask overview
6:28 draw inside mode overview
8:40 opacity mask overview
15:35 create snake base shape with pen tool
16:19 create pattern brush for snake scales and play with options
23:29 expand snake base shape and pattern brush
24:41 apply clipping mask
25:22 with snake scales and duplicated snake base shape selected click on divide from pathfinder panel
27:01 how to apply draw inside mode for one object
28:33 how to apply draw inside mode for as many objects as you want at once
34:50 add volume with multiply brush and Gaussian blur effect
37:46 create new layer with new base snake shape using pen tool
38:15 create snake head and tongue, attach head to snake base shape
40:18 change path of pattern brush to fit head
40:57 expand pattern and apply clipping mask
41:56 apply gradients as we did with previous shape
42:02 create eyes
43:29 apply opacity mask using shape builder tool (full explanation on how to use opacity mask with different examples)
49:06 drop shadow and apply clipping mask to it
50:44 apply clipping mask to all vector illustration
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Thank you for watching!
#illustrator #illustratortutorial #tt_tutorials

[@tt_tutorials]

↓ VIDEO GUIDE ↓ 01:24 clipping mask overview 06:28 draw inside mode overview 08:40 opacity mask overview 15:35 create snake base shape with pen tool 16:19 create pattern brush for snake scales and play with options 23:29 expand snake base shape and pattern brush 24:41 apply clipping mask 25:22 with snake scales and duplicated snake base shape selected click on divide from pathfinder panel 27:01 how to apply draw inside mode for one object 28:33 how to apply draw inside mode for as many objects as you want at once 34:50 add volume with multiply brush and Gaussian blur effect 37:46 create new layer with new base snake shape using pen tool 38:15 create snake head and tongue, attach head to snake base shape 40:18 change path of pattern brush to fit head 40:57 expand pattern and apply clipping mask 41:56 apply gradients as we did with previous shape 42:02 create eyes 43:29 apply opacity mask using shape builder tool (full explanation on how to use opacity mask with different examples) 49:06 drop shadow and apply clipping mask to it 50:44 apply clipping mask to all vector illustration

[@stuart_gill]

Thanks for the interesting video, but unless I'm mistaken as I skipped some bits, you missed out Layer Masks.

[@tt_tutorials]

@@stuart_gill Hi Stuart Gill! Thank you for feedback! Yes, this one is complicated a bit as I mentioned in the beginning :) And yes, thank you for sharing your opinion here with people - I didn't show Layer Mask and it's a good chance for all to try it out also. I personally use this 3 masks only and never used Layer Mask in my work, so thank you again for letting people know, Stuart! :)

[@crea2rs133]

@@stuart_gill Hey thanks man I didnt know about layer mask before

[@tt_tutorials]

Let's keep it up, 'cause there's always even more to learn. Sharing thoughts, experience - isn’t it what internet was made for? We are so lucky to live this days.

[@ashikdennis9202]

Legend. Thanks.

[@madboxstudio]

there are fiew youtubers who realy wanted to teach you something and he is one of them, thank you T&T Tutorials

[@tt_tutorials]

My pleasure! Thank you so much 😊 Have an amazing day, my friend!

[@TT_1010]

Thank you so much! This is superb! 😊

[@grausts]

Love this, explains everything in a way that it's almost impossible to not understand what's going on.

[@tt_tutorials]

Thank you so much, my friend! I truly appreciate your feedback :)

[@kataszanka]

I loooove it! Everything's clear and so well explained. The best tutorials I have ever seen. Thank you!

[@tt_tutorials]

My pleasure to share with you ❤️ create and stay inspired🔥🔥🔥

[@DEMi7GODH]

AMAZING TUTORIAL !

[@jandressler-qr7fo]

you are just amazing! Thank you so much!

[@dmsdrumcovers9506]

I've been learning a lot from your videos man. Thanks, awesome work!!

[@raedharake5061]

This is the best practical masking tutorial over the web. Thank you sir!

[@tt_tutorials]

My pleasure to share with you! Thank you for feedback, I appreciate:)

[@michaelgarner4315]

This is an excellent video and I learned a lot watching it. My favorite aspects of the video are: 1. Showing the illustration we're going to produce with the techniques in the video builds excitement. The snake was super cool and knowing that I will learn how to produce it by watching the video makes me want to watch the video. 2. Your comparison of the three masking modes was educational. Hearing the use cases for each masking mode was *extremely* helpful. 3. Listening to and watching the "click by click" steps in your workflow gave me the chance to see (and think about) why you were doing each step. That helped reinforce what you were teaching. This is a wonderful video. Thank you for making and posting it.

[@tt_tutorials]

Hi, Michael! I don’t have any words to describe how much I appreciate your warm words ❤️ thank you so much, my friend!

[@islakassem5409]

Almost the most comprehensive tutorial about masking techniques in IL. Thnak you :)

[@tt_tutorials]

Thank you so much 😊

[@noskillnochill]

Great tutorial, thanks! so detailed

[@matheuspixaflores4381]

very useful, so many tecnics, my work changed since i whatch this tutorial, thanks!!

[@mcroman-superfeat]

VERY Interesting, and learning... THX 4 SHARING this...

[@sankettoraskar6709]

one more amazing tutorial. thank you so much for sharing this .

[@tt_tutorials]

Hi, dear Sanket Toraskar! When I get such feedback and I see that you appreciate what I share with you, I feel great inspiration to give more. Thank you so much. Let’s practice, learn and grow. There's no magic pill, all depends on our confidence and aspiration!

[@wowencesquare]

I learn a lot from this tutorial! Good way of explaining how masking works and how to use it. Thank you very much!

[@tt_tutorials]

You are welcome, Rorence Gyle Piagola! Now just try them all in your artworks to make them a part of your usual methods. Thank you for feedback! :)

[@deafdogdesign]

What an amazing tutorial, thank you so much for sharing your expertise. The part I am having trouble with is after dividing the scales in some parts they appear moved and there is an edge of the green background showing.

[@SoItGoes1985]

Great tutorial.

[@Gab-nv3sh]

thank you so much sir for making this tutorial, it is truly really my life saver

[@nirmalsh1]

Excellent Tutorial. Keep up the good work. You are the best teacher

[@taimoorkhanvlogs]

One of the best tutorial ❤

[@satendrarawat7672]

The best tutorial I ever seen on Masking ... Kudos!

[@tt_tutorials]

Thank you 🙏 I recommend you 9 ways to add texture also on my channel 🔥

[@margaritachavez7720]

I have learn so much from you, thank you for sharing some of your knowledge, you are a good instructor and artist in design

[@tt_tutorials]

Thank you so much! I appreciate ❤️❤️❤️

[@elhampaiandeh7412]

It was wonderful! Thank you so much

[@tt_tutorials]

Thank you!😃

[@gerdompaula]

Another very informative video. Top quality information that will certainly take my work to a new level. Thank you very much.

[@tt_tutorials]

Enjoy, my friend 🔥

[@Henryiscute]

love your video! thanks!

[@tt_tutorials]

Welcome, my friend ❤️❤️❤️ stay tuned 🎉

[@yimingjiang2158]

Excellent work, thank you!

[@tt_tutorials]

Thank you so much ☺️

[@KingKing-ny2ew]

I get exactly what I want from this tutorial Thank you so much. 👍

[@tt_tutorials]

This is so great 😀 I’m really glad ❤️

[@inamankumarsharma]

detailed!!

[@judithangerman]

You are such a great instructor!!

[@tt_tutorials]

Hi! Thank you 🤩💥💥💥

[@anuk11]

thank you so much for the video!

[@tt_tutorials]

Hi, dear Anushala! You're welcome :) Stay tuned and learn more creative stuff!

[@AuST-5ep]

the most detail tutorial, all clear, thanks ... i start to subs now

[@tt_tutorials]

Thank you, my friend! ❤️❤️❤️

[@mahbubulhaque1369]

Fabulous, Brother. Your Tutorials are unique and unbeatable- a lot of things are learnt in detail. With immense love from Bangladesh.

[@essech]

best video so far! it definetely deserves more views and likes.

[@tt_tutorials]

Thank you so much ☺️

[@skroutzaki]

Absolutely Excellent Tutorial!!!!!!!!! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@tt_tutorials]

Thank you 🙏 I appreciate your feedback, my friend ❤️

[@MissMokate]

thank you for this, I will definitely be coming back to this video as I learn the ins and outs of the program

[@tt_tutorials]

Hi! I recommend you 9 ways to add texture also, a must watch for beginners ❤️

[@MissMokate]

@@tt_tutorials thanks for the recommendation :) textures is also something I'm interested in!

[@thisisjoy007]

Learn a lot. Thank you.

[@tt_tutorials]

Welcome 🙏 thank you for your feedback ❤️ have a great day 🥳🔥🔥🔥

[@phucgia9262]

omg so cool, thank u for the tutorial

[@tt_tutorials]

Thank you 🙏 ☺️

[@nins6225]

Hi..thanks for the awesome videos! learning lot

[@tt_tutorials]

Hello! Thank you so much ❤️❤️❤️ have a great day 😀

[@VinylSkillz]

Man you are appreciated!!

[@tt_tutorials]

❤️❤️❤️Thank you

[@mcroman-superfeat]

This was a great ride and adventure in Ai, many moves, so it take some time to learn... for sure... also we are lucky you talk English too... McRoman /// SWEDEN ;)

[@mehreenartwork847]

This is helpful and so informative

[@tt_tutorials]

Thank you so much 🔥🔥🔥 stay tuned ❤️

[@AliMohammed-vd2ur]

Awesome 💥👍

[@tt_tutorials]

Thank you so much, Ali Mohammed!

[@alexandrugrecov8964]

Very neat.

[@tt_tutorials]

Thank you 💥💥💥👋

[@saranunes4039]

The most amazing tutorial channel🌼I love it and I won’t forget to mention your channel on my Instagram after practising a lot these tutorials of yours❤️I love extremely detailed tutorials🥰Thank you!!!!!

[@tt_tutorials]

Yey I’m excited to see your work! Have a great day ❤️ create and stay tuned 🔥🔥🔥

[@saranunes4039]

T&T Tutorials I will do it for sure❤️Thank you

[@MC-vj5hr]

Your videos are the best! Such an articulate instructor you are :) Great design too. Match made in heaven.

[@tt_tutorials]

Thank you! There’s much more videos for you 😃 learn and enjoy creating, my friend 👋

[@MC-vj5hr]

@@tt_tutorials I sure will continue taking your classes! thank you for sharing!

[@tt_tutorials]

That’s the spirit ❤️

[@candyzonekids]

Waooo nice to see

[@abusayemtuaha48]

Best one,, need transparency panel uses in one video. Thank you in advance

[@tt_tutorials]

Thank you, Abu Sayem Tuaha! I'm very proud that you appreciate. If I got you correct, you want me to use opacity mask in tutorials more often (you mentioned transparency panel). Ok, I will ;)

[@crea2rs133]

Thank you This is excellent

[@tt_tutorials]

Thank you! ;) tutorial about shadows is on it’s way!

[@crea2rs133]

@@tt_tutorials Yes Eagerly waiting for that

[@nikitaparanjape5424]

Thank you

[@tt_tutorials]

Enjoy!

[@chrisgarcia3035]

u make dope tutorials bro

[@tt_tutorials]

Thank you 🙏

[@jubaerhossenutshob6223]

best tutorial on my opinion , you are really cool . just do one thing for us - many guys are new on illustrator so dont use command

[@avinash2j]

best MAN!

[@tt_tutorials]

🤩🤩🤩😜 Thank you so much, my friend!

[@BuntingClipClop]

Good tip to duplicate your artwork and leave it at the back of the clipped objects in order to still have it showing through under the other clips! Thanks!

[@tt_tutorials]

My pleasure ❤️

[@alializadeh8195]

Thanx

[@hanaassi9328]

Thanks

[@tt_tutorials]

You’re welcome, Hana! :)

[@c.j.5455]

Thank you so so so much for this tutorial. You make the most detailed adobe illustrator tutorials I've seen🙏🙏😃 The only part I'm having trouble with the pattern. My pattern brush has 5 rows of scales. They connect perfectly, but the next starting row is too high and a the scale in that row are just seen as one scale. How can I make my scales like yours so even the next starting row connects?

[@tt_tutorials]

Hi! Thank you 🙏 You should play with brush settings or make pattern longer. Turn on Preview and play with settings in your brushes panel😉

[@c.j.5455]

@@tt_tutorials thank you!🙏

[@gerdompaula]

Hi just attempted to recreate your artwork and at the point of replicating the upper snake colour palette I was unable to get the eyedropper to pick the gradient from the lower identical areas it just added a stroke in red! The only work around was to use the direct selection tool select one scale from each colour group store the swatch and then use the swatch as the means of updating the upper part. Any ideas what step I missed??? any help appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[@tt_tutorials]

Hi! It’s a tricky one and you shouldn’t be worried in case of any error here. It’s just a demonstration for you and you have already made a great progress. Maybe you simply did not switch to Object fill from stroke and this is why you’re applying color to stroke? It’s usually something very simple that we are missing in workflow because of our human nature haha 😀

[@besilio1]

Can't get out of the starting gate. I am trying the very first part of the tutorial. I am on a new layer above the gradient and created a rectangle and a elispe then moved the rectangle to the front and selected both shapes and made clipping mask, BUT the rectangle cuts the elispe? It does not leave in tack like on the video? I tried repeapeatedly and always come out with the same result. Could it be my settings? I don't want to contine if I can't do the very basic first step. Any ideas?

[@tt_tutorials]

Hi! Rectangle is on top of ellipse - that means that rectangle is a clipping mask now. Just double click on it. Open layers panel to see that you have all objects, you can move and change them. And nothing is cutted. Double click somewhere on the workspace to exit isolation mode and right click on clipping mask. Select release clipping mask or release clip group. And you’ll have all objects without mask, untouched. First of all I recommend to watch video, I explain everything and then you can try it with deeper understanding. Any more questions- welcome, my friend!

[@besilio1]

@@tt_tutorials Thank You. Got it.

[@janesafoo]

omg I wanted to do this snake so badly! but on 26:28 I just don't have such an option as pathfinder on the panel where you do! I tried to do the pathfinder from the effect section above but it didn't do anything! this is so frustrating please help :(((

[@janesafoo]

oh, it worked! first, I had to select not only everything whing the clipping mask, but the red line outside of it, too. and after dividing everything I had to click ungroup. otherwise it coloured all of the scales as well as the spacing between them

[@tt_tutorials]

Perfect 👌 You did a great job! Keep it up 😀

[@tt_tutorials]

Yes, but if some menu is missing, you should search it in the Window section and check it. Not in Effects. If I’m not mistaking.

[@MsGarf123]

This video is amazing. I have difficulty starts from 22:55. I repeated each step again and again but I can't move them together. I could only move the brush pattern. Where did I go wrong? Please help me. Thank you

[@tt_tutorials]

Hi! Just select them both I guess 😉 it should work!

[@MsGarf123]

@@tt_tutorials Umm.. i did that. ctrl + shift, group, unite, i tried all but it was still the same. Then i decided to just leave it like that. i thought it wont be a problem. i was wrong. when it came to click clipping mask, my object went to the wrong direction. the brush pattern didnt fit with the base pattern. would you please put more light for me?

[@tt_tutorials]

I analyzed this moment and what I can say is that you probably might miss something. Everything must work, I left no option for error... At least I want to believe that haha :D Please analyze what could go wrong. This is a designer's/illustrator's routine. You must find what holds you from needed result. Watch again. Are you expanding? Do you select final points with the Direct selection tool to move them together?

[@MsGarf123]

@@tt_tutorials I did. But i wondered why it was only the brush final point that moved. the base, i had to manually moved it and put them together. i could put their final point together but not at the same time. i even tried to draw again from the very beginning, i drew it next to my first object, and it ended with the same result. i checked the layers where i worked and made sure that it had the same look with yours. haha.. i am sooo frustated becoz i desperately want to finish it till the end.

[@tt_tutorials]

This is very strange! It simply must work for everyone...

[@c.j.5455]

33:15

[@mirandadrake4110]

Sooooo helpful! Thank you so much! Were you chewing gum or something? I’ve seen a lot of your other videos but this one sounded different. Not gonna lie, it made me cringe a bit. The video was still super helpful though. I just wanted to point that out in case it was a sound quality issue.

[@tt_tutorials]

Hi, Thank you! My mic picks up sound of my keyboard or mouse. I don't chew gum in this video 😂