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Participant
May 22, 2017
Answered

How to completely lock objects in Illustrator

  • May 22, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 3722 views

I am trying to make mock-ups using Microsoft's new Fluent Design System.  To do that I need to use a lot of clipping masks, but I would like part of the clipping mask to be locked and not move.  So basically I would like to be able to move a group, but have certain objects not move with the group.  I have tried locking and hiding the object, then moving the clipping mask, but the object moves anyway.  Here is a picture for reference.

So I want to keep the Background completely locked.  I want to be able to move the Green Glass group, but have the Background stay exactly where it is.  I can't take it out of the group, because that would break the Clipping Mask.  I can't think of anyway to do that.  Now I know I can just move the Glass group, but I have like 20 other Clipping Masks.  I have been going and selecting everything but the Background on all the clipping masks, but this is becoming too tedious.  Another option would be to link all the Glass groups together, but I don't think there is a way to do that in Illustrator. Like if I was doing this in After Effects I could just parent all the Glass layers to a null object, and then when I move the null object all the Glass layers would move too.  I mean it isn't that big of a deal, it is just getting annoying to have to open up all the groups and select only the objects I want to move when I have over 50 objects to move at one time.

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Monika Gause

    Make a layer based clipping mask.

    Instead of Object > Clipping mask > Make

    use the clipping mask button in the layers panel

    Then you can lock just some objects (or the mask) and still be able to move the other objects.

    2 replies

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    May 22, 2017

    Make a layer based clipping mask.

    Instead of Object > Clipping mask > Make

    use the clipping mask button in the layers panel

    Then you can lock just some objects (or the mask) and still be able to move the other objects.

    Eternal Warrior
    Inspiring
    May 22, 2017

    +1

    Mylenium
    Legend
    May 22, 2017

    That's just how AI works. Presumably some of the pain could be avoided by using knockout groups instead of clipping masks an d using some of the "select similar..." functions, but at the end of the day AI simply remains object-centric.

    Mylenium