How to Use Draw Inside Mode in Adobe Illustrator

The Draw Inside Mode in Illustrator lets you create graphics inside graphics, such as stripes within text, or images within shapes. The biggest thing to remember when using Draw Inside is to switch back to the Draw Normal mode when you're finished.

1. Using the Selection Tool, choose the object you wish to draw inside of, in this case, a text frame. Look at the Tool Bar, and towards the bottom, underneath the color controls, you'll see drawing mode buttons. Click Draw Inside. Dashed brackets will appear around the text frame.
2. Select the drawing tool you wish to use, in this case the Line Segment Tool, and draw lines through the text.
3. When you are finished drawing, go back to the Tool Bar and click Draw Normal
4. To edit the object you have drawn inside of, double-click it. This will put you in Isolation Mode. Make any changes you wish to make. When finished, click the Back as many times as necessary to exit isolation.
5. The Draw Inside Mode is a method of creating a clipping mask. In the next example, I have text that I want to place an an image in. The text frame is selected and I've clicked Draw Inside.
6. Keeping the text frame selected, go to File > Place and select the image. The image is placed within the text.