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Masks

There are at least two ways to mask elements of your score: using Shape Expressions (preferred method) and using the Graphics tool.

To mask a portion of a staff, you’ll create a solid white rectangle as a Shape Expression. By placing this rectangle over part of a staff, you can make the staff appear to end in mid-system. It’s much easier to hide entire portions of the staff using staff styles. See Staff styles.

When placing Shape Expression masks, you must be careful to attach the shape to the appropriate note, as it affects how the staff and notes are covered. If you want to cover the staff lines, as well as all the notes on a staff, you must select a note after the region to be hidden. If you select a note before the region to be hidden, the staff lines will be covered, but notes and expressions will “show through” your shape.

If you need to place more than one of these special shapes into your score, you must do so by using Expression Metatools. If you don’t, you’ll be resizing all occurrences of the shape any time you resize or reshape any one of them. For full instructions, see Expressions—To create Expression Metatools.

 

Masking a portion of a staff

Moving, reshaping, or deleting a Shape Expression mask

Masking a portion of the score using the Graphics Tool

Moving, reshaping or deleting a Graphics Tool mask

 

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