creating a clipping mask by pressing ALT on the top layer does not work

[PonyxPony]

This is yet another "I saw someone do this but for some reason it does not work when i do it"

I'm trying to create a clipping mask. The guide says "create a clipping mask by holding alt/option, and wait for this little arrow to come down"

When i hold alt nothing happens, when I try to drag it towards the layer below, the cursor changes to a plus, and all it does is duplicate the layer.

This is what I'm trying to get: (cursor changes to arrow icon)

layers appear staggered and not directly on top of eachother or in the same layer:

thank you in advance!

[PonyxPony]

This is what I was able to do, in other methods.
Im wondering why are they looking different from the guide im following, they seem to be operating the same way.

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

That tutorial is about Photoshop

[PonyxPony]

Thank you for your comment but no, tbis is a screenshot I took and cropped, it may look like its Photoshop but it is very much Illustrator.

[PonyxPony]

Ok absolutly ignore my comment, It was photoshop.

Up until now every video was in illustrator. I didn't realize they switched program.

My question then is irrelevant, thank you.

[Mike_Gondek · Accepted solution]

That screenshot is from a Photoshop shortcut, so you can not do that in Illustrator.

You can though use the flyout menu option. It is often greyed out so I never use as it is very picky.

[Monika Gause]

It's not really picky. There needs to be a path or compound path at the top of the layer and then you need to highlight the layer and then it is active. Its a very powerful feature.

[PonyxPony]

Thank you, you're right, it was in fact made in photoshop. I didnt realise they switched mid-video.

I think they way you're showing is the same way I did the black/blue circles.

So if I understand, basically there's no key shortcut to do that.