In Procreate, you cannot directly apply a clipping mask *to* a group itself in the same way you would clip a layer to the layer immediately below it. The standard Procreate Clipping Mask feature works by having one layer "clip" its content based on the pixels of the single layer directly beneath it. A group, containing multiple layers, doesn't function as a single base layer for this specific clipping mechanism.
However, you can achieve a masking effect that applies to the entire contents of a group by using a workaround involving flattening the group first.
## Understanding Procreate's Masking Limitations with Groups
Procreate offers two main types of masks:
* **Clipping Mask:** Clips the contents of one or more layers *to the layer immediately below* them. Only the parts of the clipped layers that overlap with the non-transparent areas of the base layer will be visible.
* **Layer Mask:** Hides or reveals parts of the layer it's attached to without permanently erasing pixels.
The standard Clipping Mask is designed to interact with a *single* underlying layer, not a collection of layers within a group simultaneously. This is why the option isn't available directly on a group folder.
## The Workaround: Masking a Flattened Group
To effectively "mask" the entire contents of a group, you need to turn the group into a single layer first. This is achieved by flattening the group. Once it's a single layer, you can then apply a standard Layer Mask to control its visibility.
As the reference states: "*Well, you can duplicate the group, flatten it, apply a mask to the resulting layer and if you need to change things within the group, copy the mask to a new flattened version of the group.*"
This method allows you to control the visibility of everything that was originally inside the group as if it were one element.
### Step-by-Step Process
Here's how to apply a mask effect to a Procreate group using this method:
1. **Duplicate the Group:** In the Layers panel, swipe left on the group you want to mask and tap **Duplicate**. This keeps your original editable group safe.
2. **Flatten the Duplicate:** Tap on the duplicated group to open its options, and select **Flatten**. This merges all the layers within the duplicated group into a single layer.
3. **Apply a Layer Mask:** Select the newly flattened layer. Tap on it again and choose **Mask**. A layer mask thumbnail will appear attached to the flattened layer.
4. **Edit the Mask:** Tap the mask thumbnail to select it. You can now use brushes (white to reveal, black to hide, grey for partial transparency) to paint directly onto the mask layer and control which parts of the flattened group are visible.
### Managing Changes to the Original Group
One key consideration mentioned in the reference is what happens if you need to make changes to the original group after creating and masking the flattened version.
* If you edit the original group, the flattened layer (which is a snapshot) will **not** update.
* To see the changes *and* keep the mask, you would need to repeat steps 1 and 2 with the modified original group to create a *new* flattened layer.
* Then, per the reference's suggestion, you would **copy the mask** from your old flattened layer to the new one. To do this:
* Tap the mask thumbnail on the old layer.
* Tap **Copy Mask**.
* Select the new flattened layer.
* Tap the layer thumbnail, tap **Mask**, then tap the new empty mask thumbnail, and select **Paste Mask**.
### Summary Table: Direct Clipping vs. Flattened Masking
| Feature | Direct Clipping Mask on Group | Masking via Flattening |
| :------------------- | :---------------------------- | :--------------------------- |
| **Availability** | Not a standard feature | Possible via workaround |
| **Method** | Not applicable | Flatten group, apply Layer Mask |
| **Effect on Group** | Not applicable | Controls visibility of entire flattened contents |
| **Flexibility** | Not applicable | Editable via Layer Mask |
| **Updating Content** | Not applicable | Requires re-flattening and mask transfer if original group changes |
While Procreate doesn't allow a direct clipping mask onto a group, the method of flattening the group and applying a Layer Mask provides a powerful way to achieve a similar overall masking effect on the group's combined content.
