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How to Copy a Clipping Mask in Illustrator

Published in Illustrator Clipping Mask 2 mins read

Copying a clipping mask in Illustrator is straightforward: select both the masked object and the clipping mask, then copy and paste.

Understanding Clipping Masks in Illustrator

A clipping mask in Illustrator hides portions of an object by using another object as a boundary. Think of it like using a cookie cutter: the cutter (clipping mask) shapes the cookie dough (masked object). To copy the entire effect, you need to copy both components.

Step-by-Step Guide to Copying a Clipping Mask

  1. Selection: In the Layers panel, select both the object being masked and the clipping mask itself. You can select multiple items by holding down Shift while clicking. Alternatively, select the group containing the clipping mask.

  2. Copying: Use either of these methods to copy:

    • Edit Menu: Go to Edit > Copy.
    • Keyboard Shortcut: Press Ctrl+C (Windows) or Command+C (macOS).

  3. Pasting: Paste the copied clipping mask into your document using:

    • Edit Menu: Go to Edit > Paste.
    • Keyboard Shortcut: Press Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+V (macOS).

This process creates a perfect duplicate of the original clipping mask, maintaining the relationship between the masked object and the clipping path. The new clipping mask will be independent from the original.

Troubleshooting and Advanced Techniques

  • Clipping Mask isn't copying correctly: Ensure both the masked object and the mask are selected before copying. If you're still having trouble, try grouping the object and mask together before copying. This is particularly useful for complex masks.

  • Copying to other Adobe applications (Photoshop): Copying a clipping mask from Illustrator to Photoshop often preserves the clipping mask. However, you might need to adjust settings like "Resize Image During Place" in Photoshop's preferences to prevent unwanted resizing.

  • Copying only the clipping path: If you only need to copy the clipping path itself, select the clipping path in the Layers panel, and then use the copy/paste method. This is useful when you want to apply the same clipping path to different objects.

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