Create A Blur Filter/Effect Out of An Object

[paul knight]

Hi,

I have shape I would like to turn into a transparent blur object.

In the image below this means I would like the black rectangle to effectively work as a transparent blur, so the lettering that is underneath it is blurred. How would I go about doing this?

Many thanks in advance for any help.

[Ton Frederiks]

You can fake it with 2 layers, one blurred and clipped the other without blur.

[paul knight]

Hi Ton,

Thanks for that, can you explain how you did it though? I can't get that to work.

Paul

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

Paul, I hope this will explain it:

[Anna Lander]

is it for a still illustration or for an animation?

If first, use the Ton's workflow (great idea and tutorial, bravo!). If second, don't do it in Illustrator, use an Adjustment layer in AfterEffects, it works directly without any advanced tricks.