Illustrator CC 2019: Shape tool and layers

[CheeRose]

Hey all!!

So, I'm a Graphic Design student. Our project is to recreate an Atari console and make it look as real as possible. I'm doing really well but when I got to the switches on it and now I'm stuck on them. So, I've attached screen shots.

As it can be seen,  the bottom of the switch needs to be underneath the black "plastic" piece. Now my prof said to duplicate the black "plastic" piece so it can go over the bottom but that STILL covers up the upper part of the switch. As seen in picture 2.

I tried using the line tool but it keeps not working and I'mma cry. LOL!!

If someone could help me out that would be fantastic!!!

[Monika Gause]

You could either mask it or cut the "plastic"piece in two and then put one half below and the other one on top.

For masking the thing you can either use an opacity mask of a clipping mask.

https://helpx.adobe.com/gr_en/illustrator/how-to/illustrator-opacity-masks-transparency.html

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/how-to/illustrator-creating-basic-clipping-mask.html

[CheeRose]

Thank you for the reply. But I need more indepth details, I am only a student.

[Monika Gause]

Which steps exactly do you need? It would be important that you read those links first to get an idea how masks work. Then you can decide what is best for you.