How to Use the Mask Tool

The Mask Tool allows you to hide or lighten sections of your map, making it easier to highlight data of interest. This tool is available for all SparkMap users.

Add Layers to Your Map

Select Your Mask Geography

Add and Edit Mask

Step 1 – Add Layers to Your Map

This Tool is only accessible once you add a layer to a map in the Map Room.

Once you’ve added your map layers and zoomed into your location of interest, access the Tool by clicking the “Tools” tab in the left menu and scrolling to the Mask Tool heading (Figure 1).

A SparkMap visitor clicks the Tools tab in the left menu and scrolls down to the Mask Tool heading. — *Figure 1 – Tool is highlighted for selection*

Step 2 – Select Your Mask Geography

After selecting the Tool, click the “Geography” dropdown to identify your geography level of interest (Figure 2).

A SparkMap visitor clicks the geography dropdown button. — *Figure 2 – Mask layer geography options*

Step 3 – Add and Edit Mask

After clicking your geography level of choice, your entire map should be masked. Click the map to unmask the locations you wish to display (Figure 3).

As you edit your mask, a list of your selected locations will populate. Simply click the X beside any location to remove it.

A SparkMap visitor clicks counties of interest to add them to their map. — *Figure 3 – Edited mask, with list of selected locations on the right side of the screen*