8. Compare the mask margin options

When you apply a mask, you can expand the crop area by selecting a mask margin width that affects only the crop area. The cut area is unchanged. Or, if desired, you can apply a mask that creates only a cut file, without cropping the separation.

Apply a mask that crops the image without adding a mask margin

1. Open the Lesson 8.cta file.
2. Select Edit > Select > All.
3. Right-click a separation and select Apply external mask > with 0 mm margin.
4. Browse to the Lesson 8 folder, select the Mask_Margin.p1_v0_Mask.TIF file, and click Apply.
5. Zoom the layout, and notice that the crop area is exactly at the image area.
   

   
   
   

6. Output the layout.
7. Undo your actions—press Ctrl+Z three times to cancel the mask that you applied.

Apply a mask that adds a margin to expand the crop area

1. Right-click a separation, and select Apply external mask > with 4 mm margin.
2. Browse to the Lesson 8 folder, select Mask_Margin.p1_v0_Mask.TIF, and click Apply.
3. Zoom the layout, and notice that the crop expanded to an extra 4 mm around the image area.
   

   
   
   

4. Output the layout.
5. Undo your actions—press Ctrl+Z three times to cancel the mask that you applied.

Apply a mask without cropping

1. Right-click a separation, and select Apply external mask > with no crop.
2. Browse to the Lesson 8 folder, select Mask_Margin.p1_v0_Mask.TIF, and click Apply.
3. Notice that the layout preview remains unchanged. However, the Inventory panel displays an icon beside the file name, indicating the mask.

   

4. Output the layout.

View and compare the results

1. Open all three cut file animations.

2. Notice that the cut line is the same for all three and that the crop area is different for all three.

   0 mm margin

   4 mm margin

   no crop

     

3. In Preview mode, open the output TIFF files.
4. Notice that the first preview (0 mm margin) shows no margin text, while the other two previews show margin text.