In Illustrator, you can create clipping masks to help you control how elements are clipped. A clipping mask is a group of shapes that are used to control how elements are clipped. To create a clipping mask in Illustrator, follow these steps:

  1. In the Tools palette, click the New button and select Clip Mask.
  2. Type a name for the clipping mask and click OK.
  3. The Clip Mask dialog box will appear.
  4. In the left pane, select the element you want to clip and in the right pane, select the clip mask shape you want to use for that element.
  5. Click OK to create the clipping mask and close the dialog box.