Is there a way to "flatten" a design that has many effects added to it?

[DigitalChickster]

Hi all! I'm not sure I'm using the right words in my question. Basically, here's what I want to do. I have an vector image downloaded from a site that someone else made. I am adding words to it to make it look like those words have been "cut out" of the object. I know how to do this with a solid shape. But this object I downloaded has all sorts of gradients and warping things that have been done to modify it. So it's not just one solid object. Is there a way to "flatten" the object so that I can "cut out" words from it? Does this make any sense? LOL Let me know what other info I can give you. Thanks so much.

[Ton Frederiks]

How about grouping it without the text and use the text as an Opacity mask in the Transparency panel?

[DigitalChickster]

Oh! I haven't tried that before... thanks for the suggestion! 

[Ton Frederiks]

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/transparency-blending-modes.html

[Bill Silbert]

Try Object>Flatten Transparency.

[DigitalChickster]

Ok, I swear I tried that before I posted and it didn't work. But I just tried... and it did. I wonder if grouping it made that option available. Anyway, thank you so much! 

[Ton Frederiks]

But be careful, flatten transparency is destructive and will ruin most of the editability of your file.

[DigitalChickster]

Yes, I just found that out. How is that different than rasterizing the object? 

[Ton Frederiks]

Flattening tries to get rid of transparency but keep elements vector as much as possible.

So you will end up with a mix of vector and images.

Modern printer rips can do that during the printing process.

[Jacob Bugge]

Chickster,

To keep aware of the impact of Flatten Transparency, you can think of it as a digital road roller/steamroller.