TEXTMASK (Express Tool)

Creates a blank area behind selected text or mtext objects.

Find

TEXTMASK hides objects by creating a mask object behind selected text or mtext. The mask object is offset from the text by a specified value.

Text objects are grouped together with the mask objects so that they moved, copied, and erased together. To update the mask after editing the text, run TEXTMASK again, and select the text item to be updated. The previous mask object is erased and a new one is created. A companion command, TEXTUNMASK, removes masks from text.

Note: Objects in paper space that are used to mask objects in model space do not display correctly in plots, even though they might appear correctly in the display area. At plot time, AutoCAD processes the model viewports before processing paper space layout objects. This makes it impossible for anything in paper space to be "on top of" anything in model space.

Options

Wipeout	Creates a wipeout object with a rectangular frame displayed in the graphics background color.
3dface	Creates a 3D face object.
Solid	Creates a 2D solid object in a specified color.

Wipeout

A Wipeout is a custom object created by the WIPEOUT tool. Since the Wipeout object is similar to an image, it has the same requirements for plotting. You need a raster-capable plotter with an ADI 4.3 raster-capable driver or the system printer driver. Masking does not plot properly if the Hide Lines option is used while plotting. One advantage of using a Wipeout mask is that what you see on screen is what you get on your plot.

3Dface

The 3Dface created by TEXTMASK has all of its edges set to invisible. This option is useful if you do not have a raster-capable plotter. The Hide Lines option must be used while plotting for the mask effect to work. With this option, masked text does not look masked on screen.

Solid

With this option, masked text appears masked in the drawing area. Also, masks can be colored to highlight the text. Masking does not plot properly if the Hide Lines option is used when plotting.

Example

Text over lines:

Masked text over lines:

File

textmask.lsp