# Removing parts of a shape (Destructible terrain)

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/removing-parts-of-a-shape-destructible-terrain/180375>\
**Category:** flash\
**Created:** [February 28, 2006, 5:23am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/removing-parts-of-a-shape-destructible-terrain/180375 "2006-02-28T05:23:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![psykopath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/51bf81/32.png) [@psykopath](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/psykopath)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 5:23am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/removing-parts-of-a-shape-destructible-terrain/180375/1 "2006-02-28T05:23:43Z")

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Does anyone know how to remove parts of a shape (in a movieclip) using actionscript? Something like reverse masking (where the opaque parts hide the image) or just actually modifying the shape.  
I’ve seen it done, but I have no idea how to do it.  
I’ve tried using masks, and I saw something about masking the mask but when using setMask() you cant mask a mask.  
I’m looking for an effect much like the explosions in Serious Santa at NewGrounds  
[http://uploads.ungrounded.net/291000/291630\_santa.swf](http://uploads.ungrounded.net/291000/291630_santa.swf)