Create a clipping mask BEFORE adding a transparency mask to work around this bug. This is the only solution that’s worked for me

Not able to repro this problem in the latest 28.3 released build, Can you please share a short video of the issue.

Also please share ai file to check this. Thanks!

Hi! We seem to be having the same issue outlined here, still, in 28.2.0. Interestingly, it persists, even if we downgrade to 28.0 or 27.9.
The opacity mask works fine. We are applying a gradient black to white as an opacity mask to a placed pixel image and that works. But if we try to put anything that isn't a simply vector object into a crop mask, it displays a blank box. pictures, vector objects with gradients applied to them, both get vanished like this with a crop mask. We tried with embedded and linked images, too, no difference. It worked before on a much older version of Illustrator that's running on another Mac that's too old for the current OS.
I'm attaching 3 screenshots of the objects in question. Hope this can be resolved!
edit: This is on a 2023 Mac mini Smith Apple M2 chip, running Sonoma 14.2.1 OS

When using a white object as an opacity mask for an embedded image in version 28.1, the entire image disappears instead of only displaying the white area. Applying the same white object as an opacity mask to a vector object behaves properly. Version 28.0 (and earlier) does not have this problem. Screenshots below show a white box over an embedded image and a black box. The white box was used as the opacity mask in the other two images to illustrate the problem (note the appearance of the mask in the panel and how the image does not display in that area).
Interestingly, Linked images do not have this issue. However, the moment you embed the image, the glitch occurs and hides the image.

Alejandra, the team is investigating the issue and is going to push the fix into the next Beta release. Stay tuned, please.

I just found this post when I alredy made one myself :(

https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/opacity-mask-don-t-work-with-embeded-images/m-p/14357370/thread-id/393873

Do we have an update about this?

Previously I could add an image in Illustrator add a gradient on top and then mask the image to the gradient so it looked faded, now when I select both then go to 'make mask' the image is now blank?

A lot of people said using the invert button on the transparency mask worked, but that didn’t work for me. I had to creat a clipping mask for the image before I could effectively apply any kind of transparency mask w this new update.

Do we have any update on the opacity mask error? If I used a embed images it disappears instantly. It makes the word tedious...

Please see video of problem facing.

Adding File and adding video as well in my next comment.

Gulzar, that’s strange.
Can you please share a test file with this specific object with the pattern and the transparency mask included?
Which Export method are you using? (Illustrator offers many: Export As, Save for Web, Export Assets, etc).

Also, please take a look at this particular report — is it something similar?
http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447/suggestions/42412372

Does it differ if you are using the same exact mask but with a non-pattern object?

It happening to me on v28.1 but not on v28.0. It's not showing anything on with opacity masks on the artboard but it shows when previewing it. i did a workaround by unticking the clip but it's not the same as the original. it's not yet resolved in my end.

**update** my comment is regarding AI 2004, 28.1

**update** my bug issue was incorrectly combined Here. Inverted mask isn’t a solve for the bug I addressed.

Adding a white vector transparency mask isn't working – defaults to GENERATE BETA and doesn't reveal subject.

Work around - start w/ any color vector transparency mask, and then change to white

On a Lenovo vPro ThinkStation P360 tower using Windows 11 v22H2 — I can't see masked items (under Transparency) properly. The clipped mask is invisible while the inverted mask shows up. This is occurring recently as of the last Illustrator update *2024 28.1*

I used a pattern with transparency mask when i tried to export that document, pattern dispersed in exported jpg.

AI 2024 v28.1
If you set same value of a image in opacity pannel, there is different preview between v28.1 and v28.0. Also in opacity pannel, if you do mask with a image via mask button, the image will disappear in AI. But if you save the file as a pdf or export a jpg, you can see the mask image. Please fix it. Thanks a lot!

A current workaround is to group an image before applying a opacity mask with the 'Clip' option enabled. For some reason it forces Ai to display the image as we expect it to.
Thanks to Junior Rocha for discovering the method.

I am experiencing an issue in Adobe Illustrator, which has been updated to version 28.1. When applying an opacity mask to clip an object, the screen does not display correctly. However, when I view the same file in the Navigator floating panel within Illustrator, the image appears normal. It's worth noting that if I do not set the opacity mask as a clipping path, everything displays correctly. Additionally, another test revealed that if the base image is linked rather than embedded, the display shows no issues.

Can you assist me in understanding why this discrepancy is occurring and provide potential solutions for using the opacity mask without setting it as a clipping path?