Text mask

Text Unmask →

Text Mask

Ribbon: Express Tools > Text > Text Mask

Menu: Express > Text > Text Mask

Toolbar: Express > Express - Text > Text Mask

Keyboard: TEXTMASK

The Text Mask command allows you to hide objects around a text by creating an empty area offset from the text, making it more legible. You can use a Wipeout, a 3Dface, or a solid to mask objects around the text.

PROCEDURE

Do one of the following:

Select Express > Text > Text Mask
Type TEXTMASK and press Enter.

Select the text objects you want to mask, then press Enter.

Three options are available at the command line:

Masktype: lets you choose the type of mask to apply:
- Wipeout: creates a polygonal area that masks the objects underneath using the background color. The area is bounded by a frame that can be turned off when needed.
- 3Dface: creates a 3D Face behind the text, with all edges set to invisible. If you need to select the mask, set the SPLFRAME system variable to On (1) to make the edges visible.
- Solid: masks the text with a 2D Solid, for which you can specify a color.
Offset: sets the distance of the mask border from the text. Type the desired value and press Enter. The default value is 0.35.
Proceed: applies the mask and ends the command.

NOTE: To remove the mask, you don’t need to select and delete it manually; you can quickly use the Unmask Text command from the Express Tools.

How do I...

Create Arc-Aligned Text

Align text

Create Numbered or Alphabetical Markers

Create a QR code

Create a Barcode

Create Area Text from a Defined Profile

Convert text to Mtext

Add a prefix and/or a suffix

Auto number

Enclose text in object

Delete a text mask