Hi,

I asked yesterday on how to select an object below another, having both selected for aplying one as a mask to the other. It is a real problem when the mask is bigger or same size than the object. It was not published, perhaps it seems to be a very basic question, but I have not find answer no where.

For my case I simply moved the mask a bit so I could access the object below it, but I think in many cases this will not be possible or the results of doing it that way will not be optimal. I have read many documents and search forums, but I did not found an answer.

I tried with the XML Editor, but it does not seem to let you select more than an object at same time. Same problems with the "Find" dialog.

Tracing an square with selection tool is also a problem if you have more objectes below and over within the same square. Although you can unselect those over one by one, you will not be able to unselect those below your wanted selection.

Thanks a lot in advance,

Click once (selects top object)
Hold Shift key (to make multiple selection) and Alt key (selects next object down in z-order)
Click again (adds next object down in z-order to the selection)
Click as many more times as needed.

I think I answered your question about masking the other day. It sounded like you had some previous experience with graphics, and I thought you might either already know how, or could have figured it out. So I apologize for not including this.

Hi,

I have work with The Gimp, but this kind of things are pretty different. In The Gimp you work with layers, and there is no way to select many layers at once, as there is no need to do it neither for most of the operation. You can, anyway, "lock" many layers for moving them at once, but no more. For aplicating masks, you usually creates a layer mask that it is directly attached to the layer you want to apply it, so there is no need to select both at a separate objects or so.

Your previous help was really useful to me, so you do not need to apologize, I am grateful to you. I have been able to build my first webpage design using inkscape, although I had still used The Gimp to split it on the different parts I needed after exporting it from inkscape as a PNG file.

Thanks a million for help me again.

You're welcome
I'm not sure what you mean about "split" different parts, but Inkscape might be able to do that as well. Check out Extensions menu > Web. Possibly you could use something there?

Happy Inkscaping!

Since you only need to work with two objects for the masking, use the shift and arrow keys to move both objects (one at a time) in one direction away from the other objects, then you can apply the mask, and use shift and arrow keys to move it back to original place.

Another way is to switch to outline view, select the mask while using the alt key, and then i'm guessing it should be easy to select the top object for masking whilst holding shift key, and apply mask.

i remember seeing a (youtube?) inkscape tutorial about complex selections by someone. he illustrates complex selections on a complex composite set of objects that show as a old style alarm clock.

that's a shame about the xml editor.

Oh, chriswww, I'm glad you replied to this. I was thinking about my reply later, and wanted to add something, but I couldn't find the topic for the life of me!

Besides the extensions I mentioned for "splitting different parts", I found this in Extensions Repository: http://wiki.colivre.net/Aurium/InkscapeAreaCuter

Another approach to selecting both objects is this:

1) Make sure nothing is selected by clicking on a blank area of the canvas or using Edit > Deselect
2) Switch to the selection tool
3) Hold down SHIFT while dragging a rectangle around the two objects
4) Check the status bar to confirm that you've only got two items selected

Holding down SHIFT prevents any background objects being selected by the initial click of your drag. If you fail to do this then the background objects will get moved instead - just CTRL-Z and try again.

I use a laptop which as you may know, sometimes has it's own mind, and selecting things in the Z order go awry quite a bit (for me anyway). I've found the easiest way (for me) to select items I want to mask, is simply to use the rubberband method to select the objects (which is simply holding down the left clicker of the mouse and dragging to select the objects). I usually only work with the item to be masked, and the mask on top, I move everything else out of the way, then rubberband both objects, then apply the mask. so easy. I have it set that the mask automatically disappears once applied, so that's all that's needed. If I didn't apply the mask how I wanted, then I just hit the undo key and start over. Once done, I move the other objects (if any) back in place.
dee

Ah, some good discussion

I often use layers if there are many objects stacked up. Then I can just hide all the layers except where the objects are that I need to select.

Good point Brynn,
I did that the other day, just moved everything that I didn't want masked to another layer and closed it, that method works really well!
p.s. off topic - Brynn, I still haven't gotten used to your new avi, I do like that you've incorporated the old one into your signature, but it just isn't the same, lol!
dee