Can I use "exclude" to get a positive/negative space design with 1 color object over a text? So far when I click on exclude to see the text through the color image over top, it all becomes purple. Not its true colors which is mixed

Can you please tell us what version of the software you're using?

That way a moderator can move your post to the correct forum.

As it is, this post is just in the forum Lounge which isn't specific to any of Adobe's software (and isn't a support forum).

Also, you might consider editing the topic in your original post. The topic should be a short sentence explaining your issue. A short, but descriptive topic will make those who can help much more likely to see your post and respond to it. Right now, it looks like some of it got cut off because it was too long.