Cutting silhouette shape into text

[erink58934361]

How can I recreate something like this horse's head cut into the text?

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

Outline the text.

Put the horse there

Select the outlines text and the horse

In the Pathfinder panel click on Merge

As in that image you might want to first apply Object > Path > Offset path to the horse and then Marge that. In that case you will need to delete the horse and then just keep the original horse shape with the text.

[erink58934361]

Thanks so much for your help, Monika-- I really appreciate it!

[Jacob Bugge · Accepted solution]

Erin,

Depending on the possible uses of the artwork, you can make the (apparent) cutout in different ways, including reversibly (beyond Undos and keeping the original parts to fall back on) such as a(n Opacity) Mask of a copy (possibly altered) shape.

The actual relation between the coloured horse and the (cutout) copy shape is more akin to moving the latter (or parts of it separately) in order to create an enhancement in the form of a more lively (varying/partial) shading/3D appearance rather than a flat offset.

A further enhancement appears in connexion with the letters MAVER made by adapting/moving parts, and this could also be used for inspiration.

[Monika Gause]

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@Jacob Bugge  schrieb:

Erin,

Depending on the possible uses of the artwork, you can make the (apparent) cutout in different ways, including reversibly (beyond Undos and keeping the original parts to fall back on) such as a(n Opacity) Mask of a copy (possibly altered) shape.

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If you also want the small margin around the horse's head, then an opacity mask would not be very efficient. A knockout group would do a better job (peovided you create the margin with an effect)

[Jacob Bugge]

Monika, there are indeed different ways to obtain the desired appearance depending on which finer details and workflow options are chosen/included, hence my open ended post.

[Monika Gause]

I would not contradict, Jacob. 

But you started discussing different methods.

[Jacob Bugge]

Neither would I, Monika.

I like threads with different methods coming up. We had more in the old days.

[erink58934361]

Thanks Jacob, I appreciate your insight!

[Jacob Bugge]

For my part you are welcome, Erin.