{"id":923,"date":"2017-06-29T05:44:22","date_gmt":"2017-06-29T09:44:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/designandproductionforpr\/chapter\/6-5-exercise-5-tracing-an-image-and-creating-a-clipping-mask\/"},"modified":"2020-09-27T16:35:52","modified_gmt":"2020-09-27T20:35:52","slug":"6-5-exercise-5-tracing-an-image-and-creating-a-clipping-mask","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/designandproductionforpr\/chapter\/6-5-exercise-5-tracing-an-image-and-creating-a-clipping-mask\/","title":{"raw":"6.5 Exercise 5: Tracing an image and creating a clipping mask","rendered":"6.5 Exercise 5: Tracing an image and creating a clipping mask"},"content":{"raw":"

Clipping Masks<\/h2>\nThe Pen Tool is often used in combination with images or vector art to create clipping masks. A clipping mask is used to redefine which parts of an object are revealed to the viewer. They are commonly used on photograhic images to \"remove the background\" from a figure in the image. Included in the files for this chapter is a photograph of a hand in front of a flat wall (ch6-hand.psd is a Photoshop\u00ae document). First the Pen Tool will be used to draw a path around the arm, then the resultant path will be used as a clipping mask to hide the rest of the photograph.\n
    \n \t
  1. Start with a new print document in Adobe\u00ae Illustrator\u00ae set to standard letter size dimensions. You may change the unit of measure to Inches. Name and save your file as ch6-clippath-hand.ai.<\/li>\n \t
  2. Choose File > Place to place the image of the hand (ch6-hand.psd) on the new layer. The cursor will \u2018load\u2019 the image. Click any where on the artboard. Do not click and drag. That will change the image size.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_917\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"500\"]\"Location Locating and unchecking the Link box. Image:\u00a0http:\/\/wiki.digital-foundations.net\/index.php?title=File:FIg06_Ex5_04_CS6.png<\/a>[\/caption]\n\n
    Watch Out:<\/strong>\u00a0The \"link\" checkbox in the Place dialog box is used to link (when checked) or embed (when unchecked) the image file in the Illustrator\u00ae document. Linking files can be useful as the images are not actually stored in the Illustrator\u00ae document, so the file size of the Ai document is not affected by large images. However, linked files must remain available on the hard disk or in the folder, in the same relative position as they were when the relationship between the linked image and Illustrator\u00ae file was created in order to view and print the Ai document. For beginning students, it is recommended to embed images, or keep \"Link\" unchecked.<\/div><\/li>\n \t
  3. Double-click the icon in the Layer panel and click on the \"Template\" checkbox. The image will appear dim. Name your layer \u2018background\u2019. Create a new layer above this template layer. Name this \u2018hand\u2019.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_737\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"338\"]\"Layer Setting up Layer Options to create a Template layer with the image dimmed to 50%[\/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_738\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"297\"]\"Create Create a New Layer from the Layers panel[\/caption]<\/li>\n \t
  4. Use the Pen Tool to trace the hand. Remember to start and stop on the same anchor point. Also remember that the path doesn't have to be perfect, as the Direct Select tool can be used to modify it once it has been created.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_739\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"400\"]\"Arm A tracing of the hand and arm using the pen tool[\/caption]<\/li>\n \t
  5. To transform the path into a clipping mask, you will select both the path and the image. First, unlock the background template layer. Next make sure you are on the hand layer. Using the Selection Tool click on the path (around the arm\/hand) then hold SHFT and click on the photograph background somewhere above the arm\/hand selection. You will see anchor points around the path you just plotted and on the four corners of the placed photograph. Choose Object > Clipping Mask > Make.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_742\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"400\"]\"Creating Transforming the path into a clipping mask. Main menu > Object > Clipping Mask > Make[\/caption]\n\nA clipping mask is used to define the areas that are revealed to the viewer, while any part of the image outside of the path is hidden.\n
    Tip:<\/strong> If you are making a clipping mask, you should have a path that is placed inside the photographic image. That is, the photographic image should be larger than the path that will be used to mask it. If the path is larger than the entire image, the mask will simply reveal everything, in which case you don\u2019t really need a mask.<\/div>\n
    Tip:<\/strong> Be sure to click on the path, then shift-click the photographic image someplace outside of the path. Shift-clicking inside an area that includes both the path and the image deselects everything!<\/div><\/li>\n \t
  6. Modifying the clipping mask or the image that is masked is possible, as long as you select just one or the other with the Direct Selection Tool. For first time users, this is not always as easy as it sounds. The most fool-proof way to select the mask and not the image is to use the Layer panel. Expand Layer 2 on the Layer panel. Now you have a group that contains the clipping mask and the photographic image. Expand the group so that you can see all of its parts by clicking on the sideways triangle to the left of the word, \u201cGroup\u201d, in the Layer panel. Now you will see the mask and the image.To the right of each path on a layer there is an area where a small colored box appears if that particular path is selected. Clicking on this part of the Layer panel will select a path within the Art Board. Click to create a blue box next to the clipping mask in the Layer panel. You should see the anchor points surrounding the mask within your document. Use the Direct Selection Tool to modify the mask without touching the photographic image.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_741\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"715\"]\"Results left: Successful masking of the hand and arm. right: The Layers Panel after clipping has occurred. To open secondary layers, toggle (click on) the gray triangle next to the main layer.[\/caption]<\/li>\n \t
  7. The Selection Tool can be used to move the entire image and mask as one unit, since they are grouped together within the Layer panel. Once a clipping mask has been made, it will remain grouped in the Layer panel unless you release it.Save your file.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n \n\nREAD ONLY, do not complete this step.<\/strong>\n\nTo delete the clipping mask, you can click on it with the Selection Tool then choose Object > Clipping Mask > Release. Now both the path that was used as the mask and the image are available as two separate objects. They can be deleted or modified as individual objects.\n

    Attribution<\/h3>\n\u201cDigital Foundations \u2013 Intro to Media Design<\/a>\u201d by\u00a0Xtine Burroughs<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Michael Mandiberg<\/a>\u00a0is licensed under\u00a0CC BY-NC-SA 3.0\u00a0<\/a>\/ This is a derivative from the\u00a0original work<\/a>. Content is available under\u00a0Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike<\/a>\u00a0unless otherwise noted.\n
    \"Creative<\/div>","rendered":"

    Clipping Masks<\/h2>\n

    The Pen Tool is often used in combination with images or vector art to create clipping masks. A clipping mask is used to redefine which parts of an object are revealed to the viewer. They are commonly used on photograhic images to “remove the background” from a figure in the image. Included in the files for this chapter is a photograph of a hand in front of a flat wall (ch6-hand.psd is a Photoshop\u00ae document). First the Pen Tool will be used to draw a path around the arm, then the resultant path will be used as a clipping mask to hide the rest of the photograph.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Start with a new print document in Adobe\u00ae Illustrator\u00ae set to standard letter size dimensions. You may change the unit of measure to Inches. Name and save your file as ch6-clippath-hand.ai.<\/li>\n
    2. Choose File > Place to place the image of the hand (ch6-hand.psd) on the new layer. The cursor will \u2018load\u2019 the image. Click any where on the artboard. Do not click and drag. That will change the image size.
      \n
      \"Location
      Locating and unchecking the Link box. Image:\u00a0http:\/\/wiki.digital-foundations.net\/index.php?title=File:FIg06_Ex5_04_CS6.png<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
      Watch Out:<\/strong>\u00a0The “link” checkbox in the Place dialog box is used to link (when checked) or embed (when unchecked) the image file in the Illustrator\u00ae document. Linking files can be useful as the images are not actually stored in the Illustrator\u00ae document, so the file size of the Ai document is not affected by large images. However, linked files must remain available on the hard disk or in the folder, in the same relative position as they were when the relationship between the linked image and Illustrator\u00ae file was created in order to view and print the Ai document. For beginning students, it is recommended to embed images, or keep “Link” unchecked.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
    3. Double-click the icon in the Layer panel and click on the “Template” checkbox. The image will appear dim. Name your layer \u2018background\u2019. Create a new layer above this template layer. Name this \u2018hand\u2019.
      \n
      \"Layer
      Setting up Layer Options to create a Template layer with the image dimmed to 50%<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
      \"Create
      Create a New Layer from the Layers panel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/li>\n
    4. Use the Pen Tool to trace the hand. Remember to start and stop on the same anchor point. Also remember that the path doesn’t have to be perfect, as the Direct Select tool can be used to modify it once it has been created.
      \n
      \"Arm
      A tracing of the hand and arm using the pen tool<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/li>\n
    5. To transform the path into a clipping mask, you will select both the path and the image. First, unlock the background template layer. Next make sure you are on the hand layer. Using the Selection Tool click on the path (around the arm\/hand) then hold SHFT and click on the photograph background somewhere above the arm\/hand selection. You will see anchor points around the path you just plotted and on the four corners of the placed photograph. Choose Object > Clipping Mask > Make.
      \n
      \"Creating
      Transforming the path into a clipping mask. Main menu > Object > Clipping Mask > Make<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      A clipping mask is used to define the areas that are revealed to the viewer, while any part of the image outside of the path is hidden.<\/p>\n

      Tip:<\/strong> If you are making a clipping mask, you should have a path that is placed inside the photographic image. That is, the photographic image should be larger than the path that will be used to mask it. If the path is larger than the entire image, the mask will simply reveal everything, in which case you don\u2019t really need a mask.<\/div>\n
      Tip:<\/strong> Be sure to click on the path, then shift-click the photographic image someplace outside of the path. Shift-clicking inside an area that includes both the path and the image deselects everything!<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
    6. Modifying the clipping mask or the image that is masked is possible, as long as you select just one or the other with the Direct Selection Tool. For first time users, this is not always as easy as it sounds. The most fool-proof way to select the mask and not the image is to use the Layer panel. Expand Layer 2 on the Layer panel. Now you have a group that contains the clipping mask and the photographic image. Expand the group so that you can see all of its parts by clicking on the sideways triangle to the left of the word, \u201cGroup\u201d, in the Layer panel. Now you will see the mask and the image.To the right of each path on a layer there is an area where a small colored box appears if that particular path is selected. Clicking on this part of the Layer panel will select a path within the Art Board. Click to create a blue box next to the clipping mask in the Layer panel. You should see the anchor points surrounding the mask within your document. Use the Direct Selection Tool to modify the mask without touching the photographic image.
      \n
      \"Results
      left: Successful masking of the hand and arm. right: The Layers Panel after clipping has occurred. To open secondary layers, toggle (click on) the gray triangle next to the main layer.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/li>\n
    7. The Selection Tool can be used to move the entire image and mask as one unit, since they are grouped together within the Layer panel. Once a clipping mask has been made, it will remain grouped in the Layer panel unless you release it.Save your file.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

       <\/p>\n

      READ ONLY, do not complete this step.<\/strong><\/p>\n

      To delete the clipping mask, you can click on it with the Selection Tool then choose Object > Clipping Mask > Release. Now both the path that was used as the mask and the image are available as two separate objects. They can be deleted or modified as individual objects.<\/p>\n

      Attribution<\/h3>\n

      \u201cDigital Foundations \u2013 Intro to Media Design<\/a>\u201d by\u00a0Xtine Burroughs<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Michael Mandiberg<\/a>\u00a0is licensed under\u00a0CC BY-NC-SA 3.0\u00a0<\/a>\/ This is a derivative from the\u00a0original work<\/a>. Content is available under\u00a0Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike<\/a>\u00a0unless otherwise noted.<\/p>\n

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