# Cannot find "clipping mask" in Sketchup 2017

**URL:** <https://forums.sketchup.com/t/cannot-find-clipping-mask-in-sketchup-2017/37385>\
**Category:** SketchUp\
**Tags:** clipping\
**Created:** [January 15, 2017, 9:02am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/cannot-find-clipping-mask-in-sketchup-2017/37385 "2017-01-15T09:02:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ronbertbogner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@ronbertbogner](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/ronbertbogner)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 9:02am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/cannot-find-clipping-mask-in-sketchup-2017/37385/1 "2017-01-15T09:02:51Z")

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I have followed the procedure to create a clipping mask, but the “clipping mask” option does not appear in the context menu. I have tried both the procedure found in Sketchup 2017 Help and also in the book “SketchUp to LayOut: The essential guide to creating construction documents …” By Matt Donley

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**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 10:07am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/cannot-find-clipping-mask-in-sketchup-2017/37385/2 "2017-01-15T10:07:41Z")

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Clipping masks are in LayOut, not in SketchUp. To use them, draw a shape over a SketchUp viewport, select both the shape and the viewport, right click and choose Create Clipping Mask from the Context menu.  
 ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/4/1/413f85dc8faae2e742f3308961536505ec0b9df0.gif)

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**Author:** ![ronbertbogner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@ronbertbogner](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/ronbertbogner)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 12:27pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/cannot-find-clipping-mask-in-sketchup-2017/37385/3 "2017-01-15T12:27:36Z")

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Thanks for you prompt advice, Dave.

It seems that LayOut is supposed to be included with SketchUp 2017, and  
the LayOut Program did appear in my list of programs but is apparently  
not testable in the trial version. I think I would have to purchase the  
full licence (of SketchUp) just to try it.

My understanding now is that Layout is primarily for presentation of  
designs made in SketchUp, and it seems that the only function of  
interest to me is the clipping masking. Also, it is not clear now  
whether I can do the clipping masking in LayOut and use the results in  
Sketchup. For example, I would be using clipped images on surfaces of  
objects designed in SketchUp.

I’d be grateful for your advice as to whether there is any point in my  
looking further to use SketchUp for the clipping I need.

Kind regards,

Robert Bogner

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**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 12:46pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/cannot-find-clipping-mask-in-sketchup-2017/37385/4 "2017-01-15T12:46:08Z")

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LayOut is included with SketchUp Pro and it is “testable” if you are in the trial period. To continue using it after the trial period, you would need to purchase the pro license. Note that SketchUp Make is for personal hobby use. If you are using SketchUp for other purposes, you must have SketchUp Pro.

LayOut is intended for creating presentation documents from the SketchUp model. You can’t send anything from LayOut directly back to SketchUp.

It sounds like you are trying to create materials to apply to faces in SketchUp. If that’s the case, you could just crop the image in an image editor. You don’t need LayOut for that.