Use clipping masks
Turn a single-layer vector shape into a custom clipping mask, add images or textures inside it, and edit the mask container.
A clipping mask crops one object into the shape of another. Grab a ready-made shape from the mask presets for a quick, stylized crop, or turn any single-layer vector shape into a mask yourself, even one you've drawn from scratch, so you can add texture to custom type, crop a photo into a hand-drawn shape, or frame an illustration with precision.
Mask presets vs. custom masks
There are two ways to get a mask shape:
Mask presets: ready-made shapes from the Masks category in the Illustrations panel. Drag one onto the canvas and it's ready to use as a mask right away, no drawing required.
Custom masks: any single-layer vector shape, whether that's a basic shape, something drawn with the pen tool, or any other graphic in the Illustrations panel. Reach for this when a preset doesn't match your design and you need an exact, on-brand outline instead.
Both work the same way once you have a shape on the canvas: right-click it and choose Use as Mask.
Create a mask
There are two ways to build one.
Create a mask container
Draw or select a single-layer vector shape: a preset from the Masks category in the Illustrations panel, a shape from the shape tools, or something you've drawn with the pen tool.
Right-click the shape and choose Use as mask, or press Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+M. The shape turns into a striped, empty mask container.
Drag your content into it: an image, a texture, or an illustration. No content on hand yet? The right panel shows the same prompt with an Upload Image button, so you can add a file directly instead of dragging one in.
Mask existing content
Place your mask shape at the bottom of the stack, then position the object or objects you want to mask above it.
Select everything: the shape and the content above it.
Right-click and choose Use as mask, or press Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+M. Everything above the shape masks into it.
What can act as a mask
Only a single-layer vector shape can become a mask: a shape from the shape tools, something drawn with the pen tool, a graphic from anywhere in the Illustrations panel, or an illustration you've combined into one layer with Union in Shape Builders. Groups, nested objects, and multi-layer illustrations don't work as-is.
If you want to use an illustration as a mask, select it and run Union in Shape Builders first to flatten it into a single layer. Keep in mind the shape can change slightly once it's flattened.
You can also use text as a mask, but it's converted into a shape in the process, so you'll lose the ability to edit it as text afterward.
Edit content inside a mask
Clipping masks are non-destructive, so you can adjust them anytime without losing the original state of your content.
To edit the content inside, double-click the mask group to enter edit mode, then move, resize, rotate, or style the content as needed.
To edit the mask shape itself, double-click the mask path to enter vector edit mode, where you can adjust its points and curves. See Edit vector paths for more on working with nodes and handles.
Release a mask
Release a mask the same way you created it:
Right-click the mask and choose Release mask.
Or press Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+M.
Or click Release mask in the right panel.
Your content and shape return to separate, independent elements.
Expected outcome
Your content appears cropped to the exact outline of your mask shape, and you can keep adjusting the shape, position, and content inside it independently, since nothing is permanently combined until you flatten or export.
Ideas to try
Clipping masks unlock layouts beyond a plain crop. Try them for:
Adding a texture or pattern inside custom type.
Cropping a photo into a hand-drawn shape.
Framing an illustration with a badge or silhouette.
Building dynamic, layered compositions instead of a rectangular crop.
Troubleshooting
My illustration won't turn into a mask.
Masking only works on a single-layer vector shape. If your illustration has multiple layers, groups, or nested objects, select it and run Union in Shape Builders to flatten it into one layer first, then try Use as mask again. The shape might look slightly different after flattening, so check it before you rely on it.
Common questions
What's the difference between a clipping mask and Clip content?
Clip content is a separate, artboard-level setting: it only trims whatever spills past an artboard's edges, and it doesn't let you crop into a custom shape. If you want to fit an image or texture into a specific shape, use a clipping mask instead. See Manage your artboards for more on Clip content.
Can I mask more than one object at once?
Yes. Select the mask shape along with every object you want inside it, then choose Use as mask. Just make sure the bottommost layer in your selection is the vector shape you want to mask into.
What's the difference between a mask preset and a custom mask?
A mask preset is a ready-made organic or decorative shape from the Masks category in the Illustrations panel, useful when you want a stylized crop without drawing anything. A custom mask is any single-layer vector shape you build yourself, so use one when you need an exact outline a preset can't give you, like a logo silhouette or a hand-drawn shape.
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