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maggiev90207070
maggiev90207070
Participant
September 18, 2018
Answered

Cannot create clipping mask?

  • September 18, 2018
  • 6 replies
  • 21289 views

I'm trying to create a simple (or so I thought) clipping mask of this image- so that the state is filled in by the pattern. But for some reason I keep getting the notification that it cannot be created. I'm not sure if it's a problem with the Virginia outline? Or what....help?

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Monika Gause

    Oh, I deleted the Blacksburg for the time being while I was trying to fix the issue...maybe it is an image..? I don't really know- my friend traced it on her computer manually I think. Not really sure the details. Is there a way to make it a path?

    here's what it looks like on it's own..


    It's an image.

    Or maybe a linked PDF.

    You could autotrace it. You would then need to do some post-processing to the result and then you can use it as a clippping mask

    6 replies

    S
    sarapixels
    Inspiring
    September 19, 2018

    Your clipping mask object needs to be a single filled object to work properly.  If you have a stroke but no fill, or if you have little sections of path, but not one full object, it won't work. 

    maggiev90207070
    maggiev90207070Author
    Participant
    September 19, 2018

    jane-e
    Community Expert
    jane-eCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 19, 2018

    Maggie, I don’t see Blacksburg in your layers panel. Where did that go?

    Fun fact: both my kids went to school in Blacksburg.

    It’s called Artwork 1. Is it an image or a path?

    maggiev90207070
    maggiev90207070Author
    Participant
    September 19, 2018

    Oh, I deleted the Blacksburg for the time being while I was trying to fix the issue...maybe it is an image..? I don't really know- my friend traced it on her computer manually I think. Not really sure the details. Is there a way to make it a path?

    here's what it looks like on it's own..

    maggiev90207070
    maggiev90207070Author
    Participant
    September 19, 2018

    Thanks to everyone who has jumped in to help! Update: it's no longer saying "cannot create clipping mask", but now when I create it, nothing visibly happens...at all. It looks the same. The whole state is one object, including the little eastern shore. Any ideas as to what's going on? I've never had such a hard time doing such a simple thing in Illustrator!

    *At this point I'm convinced there's something wrong with the state outline, because I've tried this with multiple backgrounds with no luck. Either nothing seems to happen, or the pattern in the back just goes away altogether.

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 19, 2018

    Please show us what is inside the layers panel.

    We can't tell without that.

    jane-e
    Community Expert
    jane-eCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 18, 2018

    You might need to make a compound path of the Eastern Shore and the rest of the Commonwealth first to make one object. Then make sure that object is at the top of everything else.

    Select all of it and try again. Let us know if it works!

    Go Hokies!

    Andrei Koziakov
    Andrei Koziakov
    Inspiring
    September 18, 2018

    Hi

    Be sure that object is prepared for using as a clipping mask:
    — it should be located above all the objects
    — it should be a separate path, but not a part of the group or etc...
    — in your case I see little island on the right side, so the main path and island must be converted to one compound path (Cmd+8)

    Also there is one simple way, which allows to prepare any path to be used as a mask:

    1. Select path using Group Selection Tool (Direct Selection with holding Alt or Opt key). Just click with this tool on any anchor point or segment of outer path. In your case also select the island, holding Shift.

    2. Cut it Cmd+C

    3. Use Paste in front command (Cmd+F) and be sure that pasted paths located above all the objects
    4. Create one compound path from main path and island (Cmd+8)
    5. Select all this objects and create mask Cmd+7

    I hope it will be useful

      jane-e
      Community Expert
      jane-eCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      September 18, 2018

      https://forums.adobe.com/people/Andrey+Kozyakov  wrote

      — in your case I see little island on the right side, so the main path and island must be converted to one compound path

      Island? If you don't live in the Commonwealth of Virginia or close by, you would think so, but it's actually a peninsula called the Eastern Shore. You can get there buy land or by crossing the Chesapeake Bay, where you get the best blue crabs on the planet.

      And thus ends my Virginia geography lesson for the day.

      Andrei Koziakov
      Andrei Koziakov
      Inspiring
      September 18, 2018

      Jane-e, thank you for the lesson You're right, I've never been there, but now I surely must visit those beautiful places during my next trip to US!

      Actually I'm good in geography, as well as in Illustrator But when we talk about compound paths and even more about clipping masks - there is no place for geography!

      Monika Gause
      Community Expert
      Monika GauseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      September 18, 2018

      WHat exactly is the message?

      You have to make sure that the outline is a path. One path. The disconnected part needs to be joined with the bigger one as a compound path.

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