Viewing last 25 versions of comment by Badumsquish on image #1228282

"[@Sollace":](/1228282#comment_5476583
)  
Well, what I mean is I use the punch/interect tools the way you mean to use the mask tool, and I _*do_* have a reason for doing it that way. It's minor, but consider this.
 
![full](http://i.imgur.com/5I4B1Cw.png!

)
 
Say I want to use the round shape as a mask for the red shape (top panel). When I do, when I try to click on things that are layered beneath the mask's shape, it clicks on the mask instead (middle panel) unless I lock the mask layer, which I find to be _*really_* annoying. When I use punch and intersect, it gives the exact same effect (bottom panel) without the annoying side effect. While it's true a mask is editable and a crop isn't, I just make a copy of the trimmed shape and turn the visibility off on it so I can go back and grab it if I need it.


 
It's the same reason I use enclosed shapes for lines instead of strokes: I keep accidentally clicking on points and joining them, and Firefox doesn't readily fix that with the undo command. Like this:
 
![full](http://i.imgur.com/lqyBKGZ.png!

)
 
If you accidentally click _*anywhere_* near a point (top panel), the two join (middle panel). If you hit undo, it works, but now both shapes are selected and it messes up your original shape.

 
I *do* use masks, but only for things like "cropping" the shapes that go beyond the edges of comic panels and such like with this image:  
>>918435t  
I drew the two panels separately and used a rectangular mask on each to hide the overbleed of the shapes.

"@Sollace":/1228282#comment_5476583
Well, what I mean is I use the punch/interect tools the way you mean to use the mask tool, and I _do_ have a reason for doing it that way. It's minor, but consider this.
!http://i.imgur.com/5I4B1Cw.png!

Say I want to use the round shape as a mask for the red shape (top panel). When I do, when I try to click on things that are layered beneath the mask's shape, it clicks on the mask instead (middle panel) unless I lock the mask layer, which I find to be _really_ annoying. When I use punch and intersect, it gives the exact same effect (bottom panel) without the annoying side effect. While it's true a mask is editable and a crop isn't, I just make a copy of the trimmed shape and turn the visibility off on it so I can go back and grab it if I need it.

It's the same reason I use enclosed shapes for lines instead of strokes: I keep accidentally clicking on points and joining them, and Firefox doesn't readily fix that with the undo command. Like this:
!http://i.imgur.com/lqyBKGZ.png!

If you accidentally click _anywhere_ near a point (top panel), the two join (middle panel). If you hit undo, it works, but now both shapes are selected and it messes up your original shape.