Clipping masks are a great way to keep your illustrations looking their best. They can be used to keep specific areas of an image from being clipped, or to create a more selective clipping effect. To create a clipping mask in Illustrator, follow these steps:

  1. Choose the object you want to clip from the Object Palette.
  2. In the Masking area of the Masking dialog box, click on the desired mask thumbnail to add it to your selection.
  3. Click on OK to close the Masking dialog box.
  4. In the Object Palette, select the clip you want to use as a mask for your illustration.