Clipping

Any path, regular shape, or regular text object can be used as a clipping path.

To clip an object (or Group), select both the object and the clipping path. The clipping path must be above the object to be clipped in z-order. Then use the Object Clip Set command. To unclip a clipped object, select the object and use the Object Clip Release command. The clipping path is then restored as a regular object, placed just above the formerly clipped object in z-order.

More than one object (or Group) can be clipped at the same time. Just follow the above instructions but include all the objects to be clipped in the selection (with the clipping path on top). Inkscape will store one copy of the clipping path in the <defs> section of the SVG file for each clipped object; thus, the clipped objects can be edited separately.

When a clipped object is selected, the Status Bar will display the type of object clipped along with the word clipped. The bounding box of the clipped object is defined by the intersection of the bounding box of the unclipped object with the bounding box of the clipping path. (However, if an object inside a clipped Group is selected, the unclipped bounding box of that object will be displayed.)