Please add vector masking

[G-Bone420]

Hi there,

I've been trying to mask a text layer so that a portion of an image underneath shows through the text (i.e., the portion of text gets 'hidden'/masked).

Here's my original thread – I've managed to get the end result I wanted but in a way that's quite a bad workflow – especially for more complex projects.

It seems that vectors can only clip while masks can only be pixels, would it be possible to add a feature for masking using vector shapes? It seems that a vector mask would just be an inverted clip (i.e., "show everything other than this vector shape") so I'm surprised it's not already a feature (unless it is and I'm missing something 😅).

In Adobe Illustrator, you can easily create Opacity Masks, drop vector objects into them, and then move the vector objects around at will and non-destructively.

Thanks,
George

[G-Bone420]

I've discovered that this is indeed possible – you create a vector shape, create a clipping mask with it, then set the blend mode to Erase in order to "cut out" the part that you want 😀

[fde101]

Just drag a shape's entry in the Layers panel over the thumbnail of the layer you want to use it as a mask for.  It remains a fully editable vector shape but is used as a mask.

Alternatively, if you make a layer a child of the shape (by dragging it underneath the shape's entry in the Layers panel), it will be clipped to fit inside the shape.