Masking and Clipping in Figma

Masking and clipping are powerful techniques in Figma that allow you to control the visibility and appearance of design elements. Understanding these concepts is essential for creating complex and visually appealing designs.

Key Concepts

1. Masking

Masking in Figma involves using one shape to hide or reveal parts of another shape or image. The mask acts as a stencil, where the visible areas are determined by the shape of the mask. To create a mask, you need to select both the mask and the element to be masked, then use the "Mask" option in the context menu.

2. Clipping

Clipping in Figma is similar to masking but is applied to groups or frames. It allows you to define a boundary within which all elements are visible. Any part of the element that falls outside the clipping boundary is hidden. To apply clipping, you need to select the group or frame and use the "Clip Content" option in the properties panel.

Detailed Explanation

Masking

Masking is particularly useful when you want to create complex shapes or reveal specific parts of an image. For example, you can use a circular mask to create a circular thumbnail image. The mask shape determines the visible area, and any part of the image outside the mask is hidden. This technique is often used in icon design, image overlays, and decorative elements.

Clipping

Clipping is beneficial when you want to control the visibility of multiple elements within a group or frame. For instance, if you have a group of shapes and want to ensure that only a specific area is visible, you can apply clipping to the group. This is useful in creating layouts where elements need to be contained within a specific boundary, such as a card or a section of a webpage.

Examples and Analogies

Masking

Imagine you have a piece of paper with a picture on it, and you want to cut out a specific shape from the picture. You use a stencil (the mask) to trace and cut out the shape, revealing only the part of the picture that fits within the stencil. In Figma, the mask shape acts as the stencil, and the masked element is the picture you are cutting out.

Clipping

Think of clipping as placing a picture frame around a group of photos. The frame defines the visible area, and any part of the photos that extends beyond the frame is hidden. In Figma, the group or frame acts as the picture frame, and the clipping ensures that only the parts of the elements within the frame are visible.

By mastering masking and clipping, you can create sophisticated designs with precise control over the visibility and appearance of your elements in Figma.