How to restrict a shape to another shape? Really simple, new to illistrator

[BremK]

This is going to probably sound really stupid, but how do I go about constraining all of the shapes on top of the rectangle to the rectangle itself so nothing hangs off. Thank you so much in advance, and sorry if this is a very simple beginner question.

[Steve Werner]

You want what is called a clipping mask.

Starting here:

Open up your Layers panel. Select the rectangle and make a duplicate (Duplicate under the Layers panel menu)

Select the Duplicate and drag it to the top of the stack.

With the Duplicate on top selected, choose Object > Clipping Mask > Make

Here's the result:

[Steve Werner]

If you wanted to release the clipping effect, choose Object > Clipping Path > Release.

[pixxxelschubser]

Try it without a duplicate:

• select all (without the rectangle)
• cut
• select the rectangle
• in the toolbar switch to: draw inside
• paste in place

[Steve Werner]

Also a good method. Start with the same objects.

After you've selected all, cut and selected the rectangle, the Draw Inside mode is selected at the bottom of the Tools:

After Paste in Place:

[pixxxelschubser]

Correct. The advantage of this method is that no duplicate of the object is needed to crop the other objects.

😉

[pixxxelschubser]

A third method would be the opacity mask. But like the "simple" clipping mask, it needs an additional auxiliary object to form the mask (or you have sufficient knowledge of Illustrator to keep or recolour the colouring of the mask object).

In this case the best and easiest way is draw inside.