User Guide

Chapter 4: Drawing And Vector Effects
You can apply a clipping path to one or more objects. The clipping path frames the objects to which it
is applied. Anything inside the clipping path remains visible, while anything outside the path is
hidden, or “clipped.”
If you apply an oval clipping path to a photo, for example, the photo is visible inside the oval, while
any part of the photo outside the oval is not visible.
Since clipping paths are vector objects, clipping effects print smoothly at maximum resolution on any
printer, including PostScript and non-PostScript devices.
Clipping paths create hard-edged effects. Clipping paths are often used to “cut” photos and
illustrations into shapes such as circles or curves. Use text as a clipping path to create the effect of
text characters filled with photos or other graphics (see "Using text as clipping paths" on page 642).
If you want to create feathered or graduated clipping effects, use vector transparency masks and
channel masks instead of clipping paths (see "SpriteLayer effects" on page 666).
To apply a clipping path:
1. Position a text or vector object in front of the objects to be clipped. (select an object and
choose Object | Arrange | Bring to Front to put the clipping object in front of other objects.)
2. Select both the clipping object and objects to be clipped.
3. Choose Object | Clipping Path | Make to clip the selected objects.
If you want to use a special object (such as a star created by the Multigon tool) as a clipping path, the
object must be converted to a vector path first. Select the object and choose Path | Convert to Paths.
If a selected object can’t be used as a clipping path, the Clipping Path | Make command is
not available.
To hide clipping paths:
Choose Object | Clipping Path | Hide. Canvas makes the strokes of all clipping paths invisible.
To show clipping paths:
Choose Object | Clipping Path | Show. Canvas shows the clipping paths with a 1-point black
stroke.
To remove a clipping path:
Select the clipping path or a clipped object and choose Object | Clipping Path | Release. Canvas
restores the clipped objects to full view, and the clipping path object appears with its original
attributes.
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