In Vexy Lines, a Mask controls the visibility of the Fills within a Layer. It acts like a stencil, defining precisely where the artwork on that layer appears or is hidden. Each Layer can have one mask associated with it.
How to Add a Mask
To add or modify a mask for a specific Layer:
- Select the target Layer in the Layers Panel.
- Choose one of the mask creation tools from the Toolbar:
Brush (B): Paint mask areas freehand.
Rectangle (I): Define rectangular mask areas.
Ellipse (O): Define elliptical or circular mask areas.
Freeform (S): Draw custom mask shapes. - Use the selected tool on the Canvas to define the mask area.
Mask Creation Methods
Masks can be created using two primary approaches:
- Manual Drawing: Use the Brush, Rectangle, Ellipse, or Freeform tools to draw shapes directly, defining the visible areas.
- Auto-Detection (Shape Tools): The Rectangle, Ellipse, and Freeform tools include an intelligent auto-detection feature. Clicking on distinct shapes or tonal areas in your source image will automatically generate a corresponding mask shape.
Using Auto-Detection Modifiers:
When using the auto-detection feature of the Rectangle, Ellipse, or Freeform tools:
- Click: Detects a shape and adds it to the existing mask area.
- Alt+Click (or ⌥Option+Click on macOS): Detects a shape and subtracts it from the existing mask area.
The following sections provide detailed instructions on using each specific mask creation tool effectively.