I don't see any reason to limit what can be used as a mask. Some people probably think using a clone as a mask is too complex, but it's an awesome time saver when making ui element mockups, and I use it all the time.

Flexibility and robustness make Inkscape an incredible vector power tool. If using groups as clipping masks were causing some major problem there might be reason to take it out. But I don't think we should artificially keep Inkscape from doing complex things if it's handling it well enough. :) 

My 2p.


On Tue, 29 May 2018, 09:31 brynn, <brynn@...125...3089...> wrote:
Ooohh, I think I just figured it out!

It would be a legitimate use, to have a group of objects styled with gradients
and/or filters, to create a complex mask.  So maybe the ability just carries
over to clipping, sort of naturally.

Is that it?

Thanks again,
brynn

-----Original Message-----
From: brynn
Sent: Monday, May 28, 2018 11:40 PM
To: Inkscape User Community
Subject: [Inkscape-user] using a group for a clipping path

Hi Friends,
        It's just come to my attention that it's possible to use a group as a
clipping path.  Should that be possible?

        If so, don't the multiple objects have the potential to cause trouble,
if the file becomes very large and/or complex?  I mean, if nothing else, it
certainly has the potential to add unwanted or unneeded weight to the file.

        Just on observation, it's not possible to edit the clipping path, when a
group is used.  In my simple test, the green clipping path is only showing
around one of the objects in the group.  And it's displaced.

        There's an SVG file attached to this message:
https://forum.inkscapecommunity.com/index.php?topic=1160.0

        The silly distorted face is a group which is ready to be used to clip
the dark blue rectangle.  So you can see that it does work to use a group for a
clipping path.  And if you switch to the Node tool after that (and enable the
clip path button), you can see that the smile path is displaced, and is the only
part of the group which is showing as the clipping path.

        Is all this expected behavior?  What legitimate purpose is there, for
using a group as a clipping path?

        I've always gone to such pains (apparently) to use a single path for
clipping.  I guess if a group can be used, then a compound path, with mutliple
subpaths could be used as well?  I just don't understand why it's possible.

        Thanks for comments.

brynn


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