mask

Introduction#

The mask element allows you to “clip” with soft edges. You can compose masks from multible elements including text. Everything of a mask that is white will be completely opaque. Everything that is black will be completely transparent. Values between white and black will be semi transparent.

Remarks#

Be aware that masks are a computational expensive operation. The calculation needs to be made for every pixel in the area of the mask. So keep the area of your mask as small as possible.

basic mask

A green rect with a round hole in the middle showing the image background underneth.

<svg viewBox="0 0 100 100" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
    <mask id="myMask">
        <rect x="0" y="0" width="100" height="100" fill="white"/>
        <circle cx="50" cy="50" r="45" fill="black"/>
    </mask>
    <image xlink:href="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2013/04/06/05/06/ship-100978_960_720.jpg" width="100" height="100"/>
    <rect x="0" y="0" width="100" height="100" fill="green" mask="url(#myMask)"/>
</svg>

complex example with text and shapes

A green rect with a complex mask applied to it showing the background image.

<svg viewBox="0 0 100 100" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
    <mask id="myMask0">
        <circle cx="50" cy="50" r="30" fill="white"/>
    </mask>
    <mask id="myMask">
        <rect x="0" y="0" width="100" height="100" fill="white"/>
        <text x="5" y="60" font-size="40">Mask</text>
        <circle cx="50" cy="50" r="30" fill="black"/>
        <text x="5" y="60" font-size="40" mask="url(#myMask0)" fill="white">Mask</text>
    </mask>
    <image xlink:href="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2013/04/06/05/06/ship-100978_960_720.jpg" width="100" height="100"/>
    <rect x="0" y="0" width="100" height="100" fill="green" mask="url(#myMask)"/>
</svg>

semi transparency

a green rect (again…) with 4 holes created using 4 greyscale values resulting in 4 different opacities.

<svg viewBox="0 0 100 100" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
    <mask id="myMask">
        <rect x="0" y="0" width="100" height="100" fill="white"/>
        <circle cx="25" cy="25" r="20" fill="black"/>
        <circle cx="75" cy="25" r="20" fill="#333"/>
        <circle cx="25" cy="75" r="20" fill="#666"/>
        <circle cx="75" cy="75" r="20" fill="#999"/>
    </mask>
    <image xlink:href="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2013/04/06/05/06/ship-100978_960_720.jpg" width="100" height="100"/>
    <rect x="0" y="0" width="100" height="100" fill="green" mask="url(#myMask)"/>
</svg>

a mask with a gradient

A green rect with a hole in the middle, with soft edges.

<svg viewBox="0 0 100 100" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
    <radialGradient id="rg">
      <stop offset="0" stop-color="black"/>
      <stop offset="1" stop-color="white"/>
    </radialGradient>
    <mask id="myMask">
        <rect x="0" y="0" width="100" height="100" fill="white"/>
        <circle cx="50" cy="50" r="45" fill="url(#rg)"/>
    </mask>
    <image xlink:href="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2013/04/06/05/06/ship-100978_960_720.jpg" width="100" height="100"/>
    <rect x="0" y="0" width="100" height="100" fill="green" mask="url(#myMask)"/>
</svg>