Hiding sections of layers around text and outside of shapes

[Aperture1988]

Hello Guys,

Sorry for the noob question im fairly new to the application, ive been hunting around for answers but I cant seem to find what im looking for.

Below is an image of a contour map, I have 2 questions:

1.) I have added to text to illitstrate a particular peak on the map, however the the contour lines make the text hard to see. Is there a way I can add some form of stroke around the text that will hide the lays below it? Essentially any secition of line that passes under the text will stop a 2mm above the text and continue 2mm below the text.

2.) How would I go about cropping any sections of layers that fall outside of the circle? 

Thanks

Craig

[Ton Frederiks]

1 To add a stroke around (and behind) your text; select the text with the selection arrow, add a new (white) stroke in the Appearance panel and drag it there below the characters.

2 Select the map and the circle above it and choose Object > Clipping Mask > Make

[Kurt Gold]

Mountain climbing in the Netherlands.

Vaalserberg

[Ton Frederiks]

Mount Scenery on the island of Saba, which is in the Caribbean part of the Netherlands, replaced Vaalserberg as the highest point in the Netherlands.

[Kurt Gold]

Mountain climbing in the real Netherlands.

Mount Scenery

[Ton Frederiks]

Much better! 🙂

[Jacob Bugge]

Aperture,

Based on a different interpretation of 1) you can add a white fill in the Appearance panel and drag it beneath the Characters, then (with only that selected) use the Convert to Shape Effect with a Rectangle and Extra Width and Height of 2 mm.