How to add a stroke to clipping mask text in Illustrator 28.3

[stwoods]

Seems as if this has changed in the newer version. How do you add a stroke to an already created mask? In this case, I've used text and images for the mask. I'm using Windows 10 64.

Thanks

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

Click outside the masked object to deselect it.

Use the Direct Selection tool or the mask item in the Layers panel to select the mask only.

Stroke it.

[stwoods]

Thanks for the quick response. I may be missing something. I've done as instructed (clicking outside, use direct selection tool, apply stroke..nothing happens.

[stwoods]

Ok, I think I worked it out. it appears I was not making the selection correctly with the direct selection tool, if that makes any sense. I've got it now. Thanks again!

[Ton Frederiks]

Good to hear that worked.

[tbledsoe]

I'm having the same problem, but I haven't gotten it to work. How did you "select it correctly"? I used the selection tool to select the clip group, applied a stroke, and nothing happened. I then tried deselecting the clip group, went into the layers panel and then into the clip group. I selected the text only (so not the linked file or the entire clip group), applied a stroke in the appearance panel, and still nothing. What am I doing wrong? Thank you in advance!

I'm using Illustrator 29.2.1 on Windows 11

[Monika Gause]

You have to select just the mask with the direct selection tool.

If it's a path, this works best when you click on one of its anchor points.