Illustrator CS Masking-Sublayer Issues

[Conroy@adobeforums.com]

Does anyone know how to preserve the masking sub-layers in CS with original layer names and all objects staying in the original layers under the mask? I am trying to get the same organization of the masked layers as I would if I had made a mask with several layers in Illustrator 8 and opening it in CS. CS tends to group everything into one layer making any further changes almost impossible to make because everything has been grouped into one layer rather than staying in it's original separate layers as in previous versions. I've tried taking the desired layers to be masked and put them as sub-layer under the mask shape it self to make the mask, but it still groups them into one layer. Does anyone have any insights that I may be missing? thanks :)

[Gary_Newman@adobeforums.com]

AI8 allowed you to mask across layers, and AI CS handles masking differently.

Let's say, in AI8, I have objects on 3 different layers - Layer 1, 2, and 3. I make a Layer 4 on top, draw a path I want to use as a mask, Select All and Make Mask. Layers all stay separate, mask clips all 3 layers.

In AI CS, I proceed the same way, objects on three different layers. When I'm ready to mask, I create the fourth layer, just as I did in 8. But now I select those first 3 existing layers in the Layers palette, and drag them into Layer 4. The retain there names and relative orientation, but they become sublayers in Layer 4. With nothing selected, I highlight Layer 4 and draw or paste in my clipping path, and then, with only that path selected, I click the little Make/Release Clipping Path butto on the bottom left of the Layers palette.

[Conroy@adobeforums.com]

Thanks Gary...that was a big help!! :)

[Teri Pettit]

Actually, it does not matter whether or not you select your clipping path when you use the Make/Release Clipping Path button on the Layers palette. The only thing it pays attention to is which layer is highlighted in the Layers palette.

I would like to enhance the Clipping Mask>Make command on the Object menu to be smart enough to work as a shortcut for making Layer masks as well. The way I envision it working is that if the selection contained objects on multiple layers, it would ask if you wanted to collect them into sublayers instead of making a clipping group.