Hi
I'm having trouble with clipping. I have 4 layers, including the clipping path on top in layer 4. I select them all (rubberband select) (31 objects in 4 layers) then Object > Clip > Set. Then everything disappears!

Can you tell what I might be doing wrong without a sample image?

Just as a test, I've closed the visiblilty of all the layers except the base object with a solid fill, and the clipping layer/path, which I've left partially transparent. When I select both, and Object > Clip > Set, the base object with solid fill disappears, while the clipping path remains unchanged!

And I'll also say that I can create several new objects, set them up exactly as I have the objects in question, and the Clip works perfectly. So it's clearly something with the image I'm working on, that's causing the trouble.

Can you tell me what to look for, or do you need a screen shot?

Thanks for your help

I haven't had much experience with layers in inkscape because I find using them eats up a lot of resources. I suspect that having the clipping path in a different layer may be part of the problem. Have you tried it with the clipping path in the same layer?

Most graphics software simply wouldn't let you do what your trying to do--it should be impossible to combine objects into a group or a clip if they are all on different layers since the resulting object can't span layers, just like on your filesystem a single file can't span folders.

It doesn't sound like Inkscape is correctly handling this situation and that it should be corrected. But regardless there is no practical reason for you to spread objects across 4 layers then try and combine them into a clip. The resulting object can only exist on one layer, so put all the containing objects on the same layer before clipping them.

Oh ok.
So just to keep things simple, and to help me as I learn, I've been putting a base layer with a solid fill on the 1st layer, and duplicating it as many time as needed, to create different shadows, shading and highlights. And I've been putting each duplicate with it's different shading or highlight on another layer.

Because it's so tricky selecting and working with objects/paths underneath other object/paths, I find it extremely helpful to be able to disable layers' view, to work on layers underneath. So is it normal to have an object with maybe 6 or 8 or even 10 duplicates with their various shading and highlights all on one layer? Is that how the pros do it?

The weird thing is that I've successfully clipped objects in more than one layer, in the past. In fact just now, as I said, I recreated the exact same situation, and clipped 4 layers successfully! So do you think it should be looked into -- that I've been able to do what Inkscape is not supposed to do? Maybe I'll upload a .svg of the simple samples I've been practicing with. Here, check this out.

Also I want to ask -- in a different image than the one I'm working on at the moment, I have an object with 6 or 8 layers of shading and highlighting, that I need to clip, to get rid of blurs that fall outside the borders. So it should be clipped by putting ALL the duplicates on the same layer, and then Clip them -- correct?

Because in another recent topic, I was told the Grouping isn't necessary before clipping, even though I had mentioned having a few layers...I think I mentioned that.... I'll look it up and edit in a link to it, after I post this.

Anyway, thanks. I'll be especially interested to see what you think of the 4 layered and clipped .svg I provided a link to.

Sorry, I thought you were grouping them before clipping them which is where my confusion was coming from whit having them seperated across multiple layers. You don't have to though.

Let's say you have object A, B and C you want to clip them using object X. If you group A, B and C first you'll end up with X(A,B,C). If you don't group them first you'll end up with X(A), X(B), X(C). Notice you now have three seperate clips defined by three seperate copies X. If you want to change the shape of X you need to change all three versions of it.

There is no right or wrong way, but I use X(A, B, C) because I find it easier to manage just one clip.

microUgly wrote:Sorry, I thought you were grouping them before clipping them which is where my confusion was coming from whit having them seperated across multiple layers. You don't have to though.

Let's say you have object A, B and C you want to clip them using object X. If you group A, B and C first you'll end up with X(A,B,C). If you don't group them first you'll end up with X(A), X(B), X(C). Notice you now have three seperate clips defined by three seperate copies X. If you want to change the shape of X you need to change all three versions of it.

There is no right or wrong way, but I use X(A, B, C) because I find it easier to manage just one clip.

other option is to clone X and then use the clone to clip. Edits to the original will be reflected in all of them. Put the originals on a layer and turn it off to hide it.

Ok, well despite all the excellent discussion, and I certainly have learned from it, it hasn't solved my problem. It's basically the same, although I can add some interesting and hopefully helpful clues.

I have 12 layers, the 12th layer contains the clipping path only. I want to clip the previous 11 layers...or the objects in the 11 layers. But when I Set the Clip, 8 of the layers are clipped as expected, but 3 of them have disappeared. Or maybe the correct language should be the objects in each of 8 layers have been clipped as expected. But the objects in the other 3 layers have disappeared.

When I 1st described the problem, I left out the successfully clipped layers, because my problem is the 3 whose objects disappear when I Set the Clip. So again, can you give me any clues without a screen shot? What would make these objects disappear when the clip is set? I've examined the status bar, and all the other places I know of, where I might find helpful info, while each object is selected. But nothing appears to be out of order.

I have made many trials, testing out each piece of info that has been posted in this topic. Looking only at the 3 layers whose objects disappear when the clip is set, if I put the clipping path IN the 3rd layer, on top of the object which was already there, then set the clip, the clip is successful and as expected. Objects in all 3 layers are clipped. But if I put the clipping path on a layer above the 3rd (a newly created layer, not the original 4th), the objects in the 3 layers disappear, while the clipping path remains unchanged. And just to be clear, there is no grouping....well, there are groups. But I'm not grouping the objects to be clipped.

Can you tell me what might cause this kind of a problem? Or is a screen shot needed?
Thank you very much for your help

Far too much details for me to properly understand the situation (I stopped reading midway through the second paragraph ). If you can post your image it might make it easier to spot the problem.

EDIT: If you want to trouble shoot these sorts of problems yourself you need to simplify the problem. Reduce the number of variables. Treat it like a High School science experiment. If there are too many variables there's no way will you be able to figure out what the problem is.

EDIT: If you want to trouble shoot these sorts of problems yourself you need to simplify the problem. Reduce the number of variables. Treat it like a High School science experiment. If there are too many variables there's no way will you be able to figure out what the problem is.

That's why I only presented the objects in those 3 layers which disappear when I set the clip. But it seems to me, knowing that some objects clipped successfully, while these other 3 disappear, might help to isolate the problem. And especially that I can successfully clip these 3 stubborn objects with a 2nd clip, by relocating the clipping path, seems important. ...but I guess that's just me...

Why don't we let this problem rest for awhile? And I'll bring it back up again, later, if I still can't find the problem.

Thanks for your help, as always, I sincerely appreciate it