iosuiviewcore-graphicsdrawrectmasking

iOS invert mask in drawRect

With the code below, I am successfully masking part of my drawing, but it's the inverse of what I want masked. This masks the inner portion of the drawing, where I would like to mask the outer portion. Is there a simple way to invert this mask?

myPath below is a UIBezierPath.

CAShapeLayer *maskLayer = [[CAShapeLayer alloc] init];
CGMutablePathRef maskPath = CGPathCreateMutable();
CGPathAddPath(maskPath, nil, myPath.CGPath);
[maskLayer setPath:maskPath];
CGPathRelease(maskPath);
self.layer.mask = maskLayer;
Solution

  • With even odd filling on the shape layer (maskLayer.fillRule = kCAFillRuleEvenOdd;) you can add a big rectangle that covers the entire frame and then add the shape you are masking out. This will in effect invert the mask.

    CAShapeLayer *maskLayer = [[CAShapeLayer alloc] init];
CGMutablePathRef maskPath = CGPathCreateMutable();
CGPathAddRect(maskPath, NULL, someBigRectangle); // this line is new
CGPathAddPath(maskPath, nil, myPath.CGPath);
[maskLayer setPath:maskPath];
maskLayer.fillRule = kCAFillRuleEvenOdd;         // this line is new
CGPathRelease(maskPath);
self.layer.mask = maskLayer;