Clipping Mask Illustrator Tutorial for Text and Shapes

Clipping masks in Adobe Illustrator can be used with text or shapes. The cool part about text is that you can use it as a clipping mask and still edit it as a text object if you convert it into a compound path. The pen tool is also very useful for creating clipping masks that isolate part of an image. When the two clipping mask tips are applied together, you can create some really stunning and engaging artwork.
Which clipping mask technique or example did you like best? Let me know in the comments below.
If the pen tool section completely lost you, check out my other pen tool tutorials right here:
1) Pen Tool Basics: • Pen Tools | Adobe Illu...
2) How to Vectorize an Image using the Pen Tool: • How to Vectorize an Im...
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[@johnTaylor9760]

That was juicy, I've sat through tuts that were 2x as long with 1/2 the content. By power users for power users nice!

[@shirleydeeds1268]

Just received a request from a client who wants this effect. I had another idea of how to make it work, but this is SO much easier. Thanks! Found this just in time ;)

[@CaryHawkins]

That's good to hear! Hope your client likes it!

[@CaryHawkins]

That's good to hear! Hope your client likes it!

[@CoolGuyDesigns]

Hell yeah. Joe Stump for the fast forwards makes me a fan.

[@CaryHawkins]

I thought it was fun. 😁

[@andrerupert]

I gotta practice that phase clipping mask…that is fire 🔥🔥🔥

[@CaryHawkins]

Don't burn yourself!

[@ShakurShares]

This is awesome. Thanks

[@charlesianima]

Excellent tutorial! Learned a lot man, keep up the great videos! Really appreciate you ❤️🙏🏼

[@CaryHawkins]

Thanks! I'm grateful for the praise.

[@morganf.doublewood1952]

Amazing!

[@Utopiannnn]

Did pathfinder get replaced with paths? I cant find pathfinder?

[@HDSupermoto]

So sick!!

[@damssogood1]

Thank's bro...your tutorial really helpfull

[@CaryHawkins]

Awesome! Glad you liked it!

[@greenestategoods7672]

Super helpful! Thank yo so much

[@CaryHawkins]

Glad it was enjoyable for you!

[@anbiakhan8306]

Amazing

[@shehlaarthur8541]

Like the tutorial but command + M when creating the rectangle simply reduces my Illustrator window. Since I don't know what cmd + M did, I cannot repeat it.

[@loopcom12]

Thanks a lot!!

[@CaryHawkins]

You're welcome!

[@bigvasily]

So, i am trying to learn how to take a standard jpg and put a mask on it or use the pen tool that would allow me to do something other than just having a graphic that is boxy.,..i want to be able to cut and have with the effect of fading into a tee shirt…(i do direct to garment printing) i tried following this but when i do some fancy zig zaggin i get the error message that says can’t make clipping mask, a path used as a clipping mask must contain at least two connected anchor point?…using the wrong tool?

[@CaryHawkins]

You have two points that are probably right next to each other but aren't closed. You have to make sure you finish the shape and join all the paths together.

[@bigvasily]

I dunno, i need to take a lesson…i tried a much smaller area, connected with the circle, assigned a color and i got the message can’t make clipping mask. The selection must contain more than one object?

[@CaryHawkins]

You have to select both the mask and object you are masking.

[@bigvasily]

@@CaryHawkins oh CRAP i did it!!!!!!

[@Artist77osi]

Wow, great tutorial on masking

[@riahsimone6880]

Why is it that when I select make clipping mask the rest of my image I gone and only just outline of letters is left?

[@CaryHawkins]

Make sure your mask is a compound path first. It sounds like you skipped that step.

[@thaisontinh7911]

i can not use Control+F, plz help me

[@CaryHawkins]

Why not? Using a Mac?

[@jayinwizzy]

Great video ty! My problem is the image is still in the background no matter what. Just an invisible box now. Tried to take it to a t-shirt design program and it won't load the masked text bc the image never leaves.

[@CaryHawkins]

It's hard to answer you without seeing what you are doing. If it's masked properly, it shouldn't be in the background as you say. Maybe the program you are bringing it into doesn't like clipping masks and removes them. You could try rasterizing the clipping mask results with transparent background (object > rasterize if I recall) and then live trace that to create a vector.

[@georgedjmatrix4229]

Great tutorial. i really like the final effect of the RUN design. allot of ideas come to mind Thank You for the inspiration, i am somewhat new to illustrator and find myself learning more about Masking and the uses it has. - Now i have a Question is it possible to " Manipulate a Single object after it has been masked ". the RUN example i would like to take the "R" and Mirror/Rotate it taking along with me only the part that creates the " R" Picture Shape also. once again Thank You

[@CaryHawkins]

I'm not in front of my computer to verify, but you can either drill down into the mask by isolating it, (double-click or right click isolate group), OR you can release the clipping mask, release the compound path, select only the R, horizontally flip it, then make the copijd path again, and use it as a clipping mask. I'd have to do it myself to make sure, but one of those methods should work.

[@georgedjmatrix4229]

@@CaryHawkins Thank you for the Quick Response. I have tried the methods you suggested and they seem Not to get the result I envision. I may be missing a few steps. Thank you for looking into it and maybe creating a video Tutorial. 🙂

[@CaryHawkins]

Are you trying to do this with live, editable text? If so, it won't work. If you want to just manipulate say the "R" in Run, you'll have to convert the text to outlines (ctrl or cmd + shift + O) while they are selected. Then you can ungroup them and manipulate each letter as you see fit, turn the finished shape into a compound path and make a mask with it. Hope that helps.

[@georgedjmatrix4229]

@@CaryHawkins I will have to try your suggestion to find out. I did get it to work, But not really understanding what I was doing. I guess I need to practice more. Thank you for the guide.

[@muzicbull]

How do you get the text to scale up without outlining it first?

[@CaryHawkins]

There is an option to scale objects and text when you right click on them. Also, using hotkey S you can scale it.

[@muzicbull]

@@CaryHawkins Thanks! Great tutorial

[@ADOBIGRAPHICS]

good

[@CaryHawkins]

But is it great?

[@imranhossain678]

why you end last part first??? I can't understand last part..

[@CaryHawkins]

I can't understand your question. Can you reword it?

[@Chartreuselimon]

What is hot key?

[@CaryHawkins]

If you're asking in general, it's a keystroke that brings up a specific tool. If you're asking for a specific hot key, which one are you asking for?

[@howardmathews5572]

Actually Illustrator is EXTERMELY and stupidly annoying. You certainly cannot do everything you can imagine unlike photoshop, can you imagine I'm sitting for HOURS trying to "inverse" a mask?! I don't know what the F is wrong with Adobe not making this simple silly thing possible! I'm trying to hide a little area, so instead of making a shape of that exact SMALL area, no! Adobe has a better idea, it wants you to drow the WHOLE main shape, then clip it so that small area disappears. Oh my god.

[@bayodavidbamgbelu4438]

Hi Cary are we on Instagram, thanks and Weldon for loading the clipping mask. Was trying to practise but got stock along the end. Thought I could message you on your Instagram handle for assistance

[@CaryHawkins]

Try my form on VectorMaid.com

[@asyaseraphin]

O

[@greggcharles3021]

AS USUAL....lots left out.....

[@CaryHawkins]

Make your own video.

[@greggcharles3021]

@@CaryHawkins REPLY TO BE EXPECTED...BUT LOTS LEFT OUT...

[@CaryHawkins]

I await your better video...

[@greggcharles3021]

@@CaryHawkins I am learning...and i will post a video with EVERY DETAIL when I can....with nothing left out...

[@CaryHawkins]

I cannot wait to see it!

[@YoungNino2017]

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't; illustrator has to be the worst program of all time

[@CaryHawkins]

How so? I don't have issues with it. Maybe run through it a few times and see if you are doing something differently.

[@YoungNino2017]

@@CaryHawkins Yeah I redid it all like 15 fucking times... it finally worked when instead of using the clipping mask button at the bottom on the layers panel I used the option in the menu.