I have something that should be easy to create, but I'm having trouble with it. I have a couple words. I want to put another object into it, but have the text mask the object.

For example, I've got these two items - text & a graphic:


What I want to create is this:


Obviously, I can do this in Photoshop very easily. But I want to do it in a way that's vector. I can do this when I'm inserting one object into one path, but when I have multiple paths (letters) none of the pathfinder options seem to work.

How can I do this in ID or AI? Thanks.

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I think this has come up several times before. What version of the software are you using?

In Illy (CS5.5), it's very much like PhotoShop:
1. Create your text and position the letters over the image you want to mask. Make sure the image is behind the letters.
2. Select both the image and the text, then choose Clipping Mask -> Make (from the Object Menu, or click Command-7)

And that's it.

This can also be done in Indy, but I believe you must create outlines from the text and use the Paste Into command.

BTW, doesn't making a PDF from PhotoShop preserve vectors? It used to, IIRC.

Have fun!

When you have multiple paths, you first need to create a compound path; the shortcut in AI is command + 8.

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Le poète doit vivre beaucoup, vivre dans tous les sens. - Verlaine

I've asked similar questions to this before, but this one is different

I'm using CS6.

I want it as vector as it's easier to manipulate, plus I've created vector patterns.

A-Polly, when I try that, the black text turns white, though the gray area shows. But for this use then I can just create a rectangle that's behind it all, that is the color I want the text to be, and follow the same steps and that works.

Thanks!

If anyone knows of an easier method, let me know

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Ah, I see. I don't know of a one-step way to keep the text color as well as use the letters as a mask. I would probably just copy the text before making the clipping mask, then paste behind the masked letters. If anyone does know of a slick way of doing this, I'd love to learn it!

With this specific situation, you could alternatively assign a transparency blending mode of Lighten to the gray shape and position it over the black text. But probably clipping it is best. Depends on how editable you want the shape(s) and text to be.

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*We are just a quarantined people under an evil sun.*
--- Richard S. Shaver

Here is another way:

• Convert the text to outlines and make it a compound path,
• Position the shape over the type where you want,
• Cut the shape.
• Click the little symbol at the bottom right side of the tools palette (it says "Draw Inside" when you hold your curser over it.
• With the type selected, choose "Paste in Place" from the edit menu.
• Click the "Draw Normal" button on the bottom left side of the tools palette to return to the normal mode.

You could also draw your shape directly inside the type. With the type selected (compound path) click the "Draw Inside" button and draw your shape with the pen tool.







Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/11/2012 06:10PM by steve....

Quote
laarree
you could alternatively assign a transparency blending mode of Lighten to the gray shape and position it over the black text.

Good thought—and perhaps workable in the reverse situation—but gray can't lighten black.

Quote
M A V I C
If anyone knows of an easier method, let me know

I've always just duped the compound path to the back and hidden it, while masking with the upper version, revealing it, and then grouping the whole mess. If you plan on doing a lot of this, you could record an action for these steps and assign them a key command.

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Le poète doit vivre beaucoup, vivre dans tous les sens. - Verlaine

Quote
Marc Anthony

Quote
laarree
you could alternatively assign a transparency blending mode of Lighten to the gray shape and position it over the black text.

Good thought—and perhaps workable in the reverse situation—but gray can't lighten black.

Quote
M A V I C
If anyone knows of an easier method, let me know

I've always just duped the compound path to the back and hidden it, while masking with the upper version, revealing it, and then grouping the whole mess. If you plan on doing a lot of this, you could record an action for these steps and assign them a key command.

I tested your correction, and it's true. A gray shape set to Lighten does NOT lighten a black shape, but Screen does. which is different from how the blending modes behave in Photoshop. I guess I'm much more used to Photoshop's logic.

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.................................................................................................
*We are just a quarantined people under an evil sun.*
--- Richard S. Shaver