You can fill any shape you have drawn in Adobe Illustrator with a photograph or other image by using a clipping mask. Clipping masks may seem confusing if you have never used this feature before. There are two important things to remember before applying a clipping mask. First, the shape has to be above the image. Secondly, only the shape and the image can be selected. If the shape is below the image, or if any other objects are selected, the clipping mask will not work.
Launch Adobe Illustrator. Create a new file by pressing “Ctrl-N” on the keyboard. If you already have a document containing the shape you want to fill with an image, open it by pressing “Ctrl-O” on the keyboard and skip to Step Three.
Select the “Rectangle Tool” from the Toolbox. Alternatively, select the “Rounded Rectangle Tool,” “Ellipse Tool,” “Polygon Tool,” or “Star Tool.” Drag the tool across the canvas to draw a shape.
Click the “File” menu and select “Place.” Navigate to an image on your computer you want to use and click the “Place” button.
Click the “Object” menu while the image is still selected. Click “Arrange,” then “Send backwards” to put the image beneath the shape.
Click the “Direction Selection Tool” in the Toolbox and drag the corners of the image until it is the size you want.
Drag the Direct Selection Tool over the image and the shape so they are both selected. Alternatively, if there are no other objects on the canvas, press “Ctrl-A” on the keyboard to select both objects.
Click the “Object” menu, select “Clipping Mask” and click “Make.” The shape is filled with the image. Any portion of the image that was outside of the shape is clipped away.
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