Adding Mask

A mask determines which parts of your fill are visible. Think of it as a stencil that controls where your artwork appears. You can add a mask to any layer, giving you precise control over your design.

Adding a Mask

To create and edit masks in Vexy Lines, you can use specialized tools such as the Brush, Rectangle, Ellipse, and Freeform. These tools allow you to craft a mask outline around the desired area.

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Select a layer in the Layers panel and use any of these tools from the toolbar:

Brush tool Brush B: Paint your mask freehand

  • Click and drag to paint white areas (showing your fill)
  • Hold ⌥ while painting to create black areas (hiding your fill)
  • Adjust brush size using the toolbar controls or hold ⌃ and drag
  • Use a small brush for detailed work and a large brush for covering broader areas

Rectangle tool Rectangle I Create rectangular masks

  • Click and drag to draw a rectangular mask
  • Hold ⇧ while dragging to create a perfect square
  • Single-click on an object to automatically detect and mask its rectangular shape
  • Hold ⇧ while clicking multiple areas to add to your mask
  • Hold ⌥ while clicking to remove areas from your existing mask

Ellipse tool Ellipse O: Draw circular masks

  • Click and drag to create an elliptical mask
  • Hold ⇧ while dragging for a perfect circle
  • Single-click on a circular object to auto-detect its shape
  • Combine with ⇧ or ⌥ for adding to or subtracting from your mask

Freeform tool Freeform S: Create custom mask shapes

  • Click points to create a custom shape
  • Close the shape to complete your mask
  • Single-click on complex objects to let Vexy Lines detect their shape
  • Use with ⇧ or ⌥ modifiers to add or subtract from existing masks

When you add a mask, it appears next to the layer in the Layers panel. White areas of the mask show your fill, while black areas hide it.

For more details on using these mask drawing tools, refer to the following articles: Brush, Rectangle, Ellipse, Freeform.

Tips for Working with Masks

  • Toggle fill visibility: Turn off your fill visibility for clearer mask editing
  • Use the View controls: Adjust edge highlighting to better see your mask boundaries
  • Combine tools: Use different mask tools in combination for the best results
  • Save versions: When trying complex masking techniques, save different versions of your file