What's the Illustrator equivalent of Photoshop's clipping masks?

Question

I'm struggling to find a way in Illustrator to do something which is very simple in Photoshop.

Here's an example:

I draw a plane. Now I want to draw stripes on it and a cockpit.

In Ps, I clip these two layers to the plane, and continue to edit the shape of the plane afterwards. The stripes and cockpit stay overlapping whatever the plane shape becomes.

In Ai, I've tried all the Pathfinder options, and although I can achieve the opposite effects to what I want, I can't simply 'clip' the details to the plane.

Here is a picture of what I mean:

What's the easiest way to do this in Ai? Do I need to find a different drawing flow to the way I do it in Ps?

Answer 1

Here's one way to do it:

1 — Duplicate the path you want to use to clip

Press return, type 0 for horizontal and 0 for vertical offsets, then click Copy.

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2 — Apply clipping mask

You now have a copy of the plane outline. Change the fill to be completely clear, bring it to front, then select the items you want to be clipped (in Illustrator, the top path will be used as the clipping path).

Choose Object → Clipping Mask → Make.

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3 — You’re done

It should appear the way you want. Clipping Masks in Illustrator work a little differently to Clipping Masks in Photoshop, but similar results can be achieved.

You can edit any of the shapes at any time by using the Direct Selection tool (the white arrow), or by double clicking with the Selection tool (to enter isolation mode, if you have that turned on in preferences).

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Pathfinder tricks

When using Pathfinder, you option-click the buttons to apply the masking, but keep the paths editable (in Illustrator CS5 and newer). You can click Expand if you'd like to destructively apply the edit.

Answer 2

I would not use clipping masks here. It's unnecessary overhead in the file and introduces transparency needlessly.

Simply use the Shape Builder Tool and Option/Alt click the portions you wish to remove.

This keeps the fie smaller and does not introduce transparency, or additional anchors, needlessly.

Once you start building multiple objects, if everything uses clipping masks you're going to create an editing nightmare for yourself. In this instance, a clipping mask is unwarranted and you are better off without it.

Answer 3

Create your mask shape.

Create your element to be masked, in your example, the stripe (and all other items to be masked by this shape.)

Move the mask shape to the front.

Select both objects. From the Edit menu (I believe, typing from memory), select Make Clipping Mask.