How to Make Clipping Mask in InDesign — 2023
Clipping mask is an object whose shape masks other artworks. That way, only areas that lie within the shape are visible. The result is clipping the artwork to the shape of the mask. This feature can be quite handy when you want to create posters, and other graphical designs. The Clipping mask in InDesign and the objects that are masked are called clipping set. Today, we will learn how to make a clipping mask in InDesign, since it is rather different than making it in any other Adobe application.
How to Edit Clipping Mask in InDesign Files
While making a clipping mask in InDesign is fairly simple, not all people have the application. In some cases, you might need to make additional changes and edits, after exporting the InDesign file into a PDF document. Instead of converting back to InDesign file, editing, and then again to PDF, you can speed up the process by creating a clipping mask in a PDF software tool that can read InDesign files. For that purpose, you need a robust software, one like Wondershare PDFelement — PDF Editor.
It is one of the most popular PDF tools on the market, one that offers wide variety of features that can help you edit and organize PDF documents. Here is a quick breakdown of all the features:
- Edit text in PDF documents using single line or paragraph mode.
- Edit images by rotating, cropping, copying, removing, and more.
- Add annotation tools in the PDF document like sticky comments to make it look professional.
- Use OCR technology to make scanned PDF documents editable and searchable.
- Insert page numbers and page elements.
- Create interactive form fields and fill them.
- Convert PDF documents into World, HTML, image files, and more.
- Protect PDF documents with password restrictions.
With that in mind, here is a guide how you can edit pictures.
Step 1. Open the InDesign PDF
InDesign file usually exported as PDF format so it is very easy to open an InDesign file with PDFelement. You can either drag and drop the file, or go «Open Files…» and locate the file.
Step 2. Crop Images and Objects
To crop a picture or object, go to the top-left corner, and click on «Edit». Select the image you want to crop. In the right side, you will notice a «Clip» button. Click the button, and crop the image as you want.
Step 3. Edit Images and Objects
You can edit images in more ways. Click the «Edit» button, select the image, and then drag it to move it. You can also move it using the arrow keys in your keyboard. Place the mouse cursor on the edge of the blue box, right click to choose rotate left, rotate right, overturn vertical, replace image, and more options. If you want to add image to the document, go to «Edit» > «Add Image» and select the image you want to add.
Once you are done with editing, click Save document to save the changes you made.
How to Make a Clipping Mask in InDesign
As mentioned previously, creating a clipping mask in InDesign is different from how you do it in other Adobe tools. If you work in different Adobe tools, you might get messed up. For example, making a clipping mask in Photoshop is different. In order to make sure you do not forget any steps, we can show you how do to clipping mask in InDesign.
Make sure you start from a shape, or a container, and an image, or filling. Here are the steps.
- 1. Create the shape of your choice, it can be basically anything.
- 2. If you haven’t placed the image in InDesign yet, you can select a shape you drew and place the image inside of the shape, using the command «File» > «Place» > select the image.
- 3. Alternatively, you can cut the image you already placed. Then, select the shape you drew, and right click the «Select Paste into» option.
As you can see, making clipping masks in InDesign is rather simple, but it works differently from Adobe’s other graphic design tools, including Photoshop and Illustrator.
If you have text that you want to use as a container, transform it into a shape, and then create InDesign gradient mask. Last, but not least, make sure that the shape and the image are in the same layer. That is all you need to know.
How to Make a Clipping Mask in InDesign
Masks are one of the most useful tools in any graphic design workflow, and InDesign is no exception. They give you complete control over the shape of each individual element and how each one interacts with the rest of your layout.
InDesign uses a slightly different approach to masks than most other Adobe apps, but by the end of this tutorial, you’ll be making clipping masks like a pro.
Table of Contents
Images in InDesign
The most important thing to know about working with images in InDesign is that a clipping mask is created automatically as soon as you place images into your document.
By default, this clipping mask matches the outer dimensions of your image object, so it only displays as a basic rectangular shape – or rather, it seems like it doesn’t exist at all – and that’s what confuses most new InDesign users.
Making Basic Clipping Masks in InDesign
The simplest way to create a clipping mask is to create a vector shape in InDesign and then place your image into the shape.
The vector shape becomes the new image’s clipping mask instead of the default rectangle. It’s a really simple process that works the same way for any vector shape in InDesign.
Start by creating your vector shape, which can be just about anything you can draw. InDesign has tools for creating rectangles, ellipses, and other polygons, but there’s also a Pen tool that you can use to create freeform shapes using anchor points and Bezier curves.
Once you’ve created your shape, make sure it’s selected, and then press Command + D (use Ctrl + D if you’re using InDesign on a PC) to place your image. In the Place dialog window, make sure that the Replace Selected Item setting is enabled.
Your placed image will appear inside the vector shape.
If you’re working with a large, high-resolution image, it will often be placed at a scale that’s far too large for your clipping mask, as in the example above. Instead of trying to scale it down manually, InDesign has a number of commands to help fit objects into frames automatically.
Open the Object menu, select the Fitting submenu, then click the appropriate fitting option, depending on your situation.
These same steps can be applied to any vector shape in InDesign, which gives you complete freedom when it comes to clipping mask shape and placement.
Making a Clipping Mask with Text in InDesign
Text is always rendered as a vector in InDesign, and it can be used as a clipping mask with a simple modification. Follow the steps below to make a text clipping mask.
Step 1: Create a new text frame using the Type tool and enter the text you want to use as a mask. It’s usually a good idea to keep the text to a minimum for the best visual effect, often just a single word.
Keep in mind that some fonts (and some images) will work better than others for this trick.
Step 2: Select the entire text frame using the Selection tool, open the Type menu, and click Create Outlines. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Command + Shift + O (use Ctrl + Shift + O if you’re on a PC).
Your text will be converted into vector shapes, which means they can no longer be edited as text using the keyboard. You’ll have to use the Pen tool and the Direct Selection tool to make any additional shape changes beyond basic transformations like scale and rotation.
Step 3: Make sure the frame containing your text is selected, and press Command + D (use Ctrl + D if you’re on a PC) to place your image within the text shapes.
In the Place dialog window, browse to select your image file and make sure the Replace Selected Item setting is enabled.
Clipping Path in InDesign
InDesign can also create clipping masks based on your image contents automatically, but the process is fairly crude, and it’s not really suited to anything more complex than removing simple image backgrounds from subjects.
For whatever reason, these are known as clipping paths in InDesign instead of clipping masks, but they do the same job.
Place your image into your InDesign document using the Place command, and keep the image object selected. Open the Object menu, select the Clipping Path submenu, and click Options.
You can also use the keyboard shortcut Command + Option + Shift + K (Ctrl + Alt + Shift + K if you’re on a PC).
InDesign will open the Clipping Path dialog window. In the Type dropdown menu, select Detect Edges.
You’ll be able to set the Threshold and Tolerance sliders to determine the clipping path placement around your image subject, and you may also want to experiment with the Inside Edges option for more complex subjects.
You may want to check the Preview box to get a real-time look at the results of your settings before you click OK.
Keen-eyed readers may notice that the above example is pretty good, but not perfect. While InDesign’s automatic clipping path creation does a good job of removing the background, some of the similar colors within the bird’s plumage also get removed.
External Clipping Masks
In addition to the vector shape methods mentioned previously, it’s also possible to use alpha channels and Photoshop paths to create clipping masks in InDesign, as long as the image format you use can store that kind of data. TIFF, PNG, and PSD are all good options.
In order to ‘activate’ the path or alpha channel as an InDesign clipping path, you’ll need to adjust the Clipping Path options the way you did in the previous section.
Make sure your image object is selected, then open the Object menu, select the Clipping Path submenu, and click Options. In the Type dropdown menu, you will now be able to select the appropriate clipping path option.
In this example, the PNG file uses an alpha channel to store transparency data, and InDesign can use that as a guide for creating a clipping path.
A Final Word
That’s just about everything there is to know about how to make a clipping mask in InDesign! Masks can be tricky to learn in InDesign, but they’re one of the most important tools you have for making dynamic and engaging layouts. Once you master them, you can take your designs to new creative heights.
Create a clipping mask in InDesign
Creating a clipping mask in InDesign is a little different from how you do it in all the other Adobe tools.
I personally always fight when I have to create a clipping mask in Photoshop – I always forget some steps – while clipping masks in InDesign are fairly simple.
You always need to start from a shape (container) and an image (filling).
Also when you have some text that you want to use as a container, first you need to transform the text into a shape, and then create the clipping mask.
Let’s see how to:
Important! Make sure the shape and the image are in the same layer.
Creating a clipping mask in InDesign
- Create the shape of your choice.
- If you haven’t placed the image in InDesign yet, you can select the shape you just drew and place the image inside it (File > Place > select the image to place).
- Otherwise, cut the image you already placed. Select the shape you drew. Right-click and select Paste into.
And that is done.
You either place the image directly into shape or you cut it and place it into the shape.
Your clipping mask in InDesign is done.
Creating a clipping mask with a group of shapes
It’s when you have a group of shapes like the one in the image below that creating a clipping mask in InDesign becomes a little tricky.
- Create your shapes. Select all of them and click on Object > Paths > Make Compound Path.
- Now, as we’ve seen above, you can either place your image from the menu File > Place or cut the image and Paste into your group of shapes.
Creating a clipping mask with text
This last part of the tutorial will answer a question I’ve been asked many times:
"How do you fill text with an image in InDesign?"
Very simple, you create the text, transform it into a shape, select the text, and then place your image from the menu File > Place or cut the image and Paste into the text.
To transform your text into an image, you should:
- Select the text. And click on Type > Create Outlines.
- And then as we’ve seen above select the text and either place your image from the menu File > Place (in this case make sure you are actually selecting the text) or cut the image and Paste into your text.
Creating a clipping mask with text in InDesign is exactly that simple!
One last thing, if the image doesn’t fit perfectly into your text, right-click on the text and select Fitting > Fit Frame Proportionally.
How to Make a Clipping Mask in InDesign
What You’ll Be Creating
Curious if you can you make clipping masks in InDesign? Masking is an essential skill to learn in many different design applications, and InDesign, of course, is no different. There are a few different ways in which we can make masks with InDesign, but one of the most convenient ways is by using custom frame shapes. We’ll be looking at a number of different ways to create clipping mask InDesign effects in this tutorial.
Ready to explore how to make a clipping mask in InDesign? Here are a few different clipping mask InDesign techniques you can try out!
Follow along with us over on our Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel:
What You’ll Need
The following assets are used in this tutorial:
We’ll use these images as we explore clipping masks in InDesign. You are welcome to use them along with me. Otherwise, make sure you have images of your own to work with.
Now, let’s dig into some of the ways we can create clipping mask InDesign effects.
1. How to Create a Clipping Mask Using Frame Shapes
Step 1
In InDesign, most objects we use are within frames. Interestingly, these can be considered clipping masks in and of themselves. As the frame and the content within can be moved separately, InDesign comes with this basic form of masking built in.
We can use this to our advantage by creating frame shapes and pasting images we want to mask into them.
Within your document, import an image you’d like to mask by going to File > Place.
Then select the image you want to use and press Open.
Step 2
By selecting the middle circle on the image, we can move the images from inside the frame. We can also use the Transform Tool to clip the edges of the images if needed.
Step 3
However, rather than using the default rectangle frame the image was imported into, let’s use a different shape to create a more interesting clipping mask.
From the toolbar, select the Ellipse Frame Tool.
Step 4
Click and hold the circle tool over the top of your image. This is a good way to gauge where you want your mask to be placed. In this case, I’m going to create a clipping mask over a single bird in this image.
Step 5
Go back to your image by using the Selection Tool and clicking on it. Now, cut the image using Edit > Cut.
You can also copy the image if you would like! Cutting is a good idea, though, so that we don’t have multiple copies of the same image on our stage.
Step 6
Now that you have cut the image, select the circle frame we created. Now go to Edit > Paste Into.
Note that the other methods of pasting the image will give the image a new frame rather than placing it into the frame we just created.
Step 7
And there you have a quick way of creating a clipping mask with a different shape. Of course, you can use this same method with all the frame shape tools, including the Rectangle and Polygon Frame Tool.
2. How to Create a Clipping Mask Using Customized Frame Shapes
Step 1
While the Frame Shape tools are useful, there may be times when you need more complex clipping masks than what’s provided. Luckily, we can create complex shapes by using the Pen Tool. Let’s look at how to do a clipping mask in InDesign with customized shapes.
Start by selecting the Pen Tool from the toolbar.
Step 2
Next, we’ll create a frame to use as the shape of our clipping mask.
Create a single point, and then click again in another spot. Continue this process to create a shape that works for you.
Step 3
When you are satisfied with your shape, close it up by connecting the line to the starting point. If it’s not perfect, don’t worry too much—we can make edits and refine our mask at any point!
Step 4
Next, we want to get the image into our new shape, so it can act as a clipping mask. With the Selection Tool selected, click on the image to select it. Then cut it (Edit > Cut).
Step 5
Now select the clipping mask once again. To paste the image we cut into the frame, we have to use a special form of paste. To do this, go to Edit > Paste Into.
By using Paste Into, we are placing the images into the frame we created.
Step 6
Now the background is gone, revealing only the shape of what we cut out. Now you can use the move tools, just like with the rectangular frame the image started in. As you can see, this is a really powerful tool that leaves a lot of room for creativity.
The Pen Tool is also very versatile, so you can work with just about any shape you need.
Step 7
Let’s refine our new clipping mask a bit!
The shape we just created may have a stroke around it due to using the Pen Tool. We can remove this from the Properties panel.
With the shape frame selected, set the Stroke to 0.
Step 8
One of the benefits of creating our own shapes is that we can use the anchor points to edit the mask. By using the Direct Selection tool, we can move around the anchor points.
To do this, select the Direct Selection tool and then double-click an anchor point. You will now be able to move it to a better position. This is a great tool for when you need to make edits to your clipping masks at a later point in the project.
3. Using a Typeface as a Clipping Mask
Step 1
Next, let’s take a look at some InDesign text clipping mask techniques.
Using the shape tools to create masks has a lot of uses. However, tracing over typography with the Pen Tool would be really time-consuming. Luckily, there is a handy tool for turning typefaces into a layer mask.
To start, create some type by selecting the Text Tool. Place your text, and choose your typeface and font size.
Step 2
Now select the text frame with the Selection Tool. Then go to Type > Create Outlines.
Step 3
Now that we have the outlines created, we can paste an image into this frame. To do this, cut the image and then select the typed outline.
Then go to Edit > Paste Into.
Step 4
Now, you can move around your image as needed.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a lot of ways of creating clipping masks in InDesign by using the frame tools. InDesign is really useful in this regard as it conveniently places all our images into frames by default. We can take this feature to the next level by creating custom frame shapes; we can get really creative with this.
From InDesign text clipping mask effects to custom shapes, there’s so much we can try here. Hopefully, this has given you some insights into how to do clipping masks in InDesign scenarios.
If you liked this tutorial, you may like these other InDesign-related tutorials.