Clipping Path Looses Its Shape

[MichaelTeoh]

I'm trying clip some content into a rectangle shape with round corners, but the resulting clipping path becomes a rectangle without the round corners.

[Doug A Roberts]

Were the rounded corners created with the round corners effect, or some other way?

[MichaelTeoh]

Hi Doug, the round corners were created with Effect -> Stylize -> Round Corners.

With the clipping path remains a rectangle, I tried to apply round corners to it. Despite I can, the round corners doesn't appear. And if I try to apply the round corner another time, it prompts that there is already an instance of the effect. 

Now there is another weird thing. I have an old file which the clipping is behave correctly. However, once I release the clipping, and reapply clipping again, the round corners will be gone.

[Met1]

Try expanding the rectangle first.

[MichaelTeoh]

Doesn't work. Not matter what size is the rectangle with round corners, it willl become without round corners after clipping.

[Doug A Roberts · Accepted solution]

When you turn a path into a clipping path, it will lose its stroke and any appearance effects, including the Round Corners effect.

First, select the path and go to Object > Expand Appearance

Then apply the clipping mask.

Then select the clipping path with the direct selection tool, and reapply a stroke.

[MichaelTeoh]

Thanks Doug, it works. Although I don't remember doing this on the old file. When I release the clipping in the old file, the path remains one without having Expand Appearence done. No idea how it was clipped properly with doing the Expand Apppearance step. Thanks anyway.

[MichaelTeoh]

Typo: No idea how it was clipped properly without doing the Expand Apppearance step.

[Doug A Roberts]

Perhaps you used a method other than the Round Corners effect. If you edit the path using corner widgets instead, you wouldn't need to expand the appearance.

[MichaelTeoh]

Can't find the corner widgets. Live corner doesn't work. The anchor points don't show up.

Anyway, if the round corners in the old file were created with a different method, shouldn't the path remain the same (with round corner) after I release the clipping and reapply the clipping? 

[Doug A Roberts]

I'd have to see the file.

For the corner widgets: what version of AI are you using? Can you see View > Show Corner Widgets?

[MichaelTeoh]

Just check that it was a very old version (17.0), just before the corner widget was introduced.

Anyway, here I make a copy of the old file. Thanks.

[Doug A Roberts]

It's the same situation as the stroke. You can apply the rounded corners effect to a clipping path after applying the mask, but if you release it and reapply, the effect will be cleared.

[Met1]

Works for me. How are you making the rounded corner rectangle?