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inkling23
inkling23
New Participant
March 22, 2023
Answered

Multiple shapes to make a mask?

  • March 22, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 946 views

I'm trying to recreate this technique where multiple shapes (in this case, two rectangles) are masking out parts of another shape (the M). The entire shape (the M plus the two rectangles) are set to the same purple fill color. I have no idea how the original designer did this. Any help would be highly appreciated, thanks!

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Ton Frederiks

You see a Compound Shape. This can be made in the Pathfinder panel by selecting objects and while holding down the Alt key click on one of the options in the top row. From the Pathfinder menu you can release the Compound Shape.

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/combining-objects.html

2 replies

Ton Frederiks
Ton FrederiksCorrect answer
Adobe Expert
March 22, 2023

You see a Compound Shape. This can be made in the Pathfinder panel by selecting objects and while holding down the Alt key click on one of the options in the top row. From the Pathfinder menu you can release the Compound Shape.

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/combining-objects.html

inkling23
inkling23Author
New Participant
March 22, 2023

Thanks Ton, that link was super helpful! So, what I did was made three three rectangles, with two of them designated as my masks on top and option/alt clicked on Minus Front. Worked perfectly!

Ton Frederiks
Ton Frederiks
Adobe Expert
March 22, 2023

Good to hear that helped.

barbara_a7746676
barbara_a7746676
Adobe Expert
March 22, 2023

If the M is a shape (text converted to outlines, Type > Create Outlines), all you need to do is the following:

Draw the two rectangles. 

Select the two rectangles and group them (Object > Group).

Make sure that the rectangle group is on top of the 'M'. (Object > Arrange > Bring to Front)

Select the grouped rectangles and the M.

In the Pathfinder panel, click the Minus Front icon.

inkling23
inkling23Author
New Participant
March 22, 2023

Thanks Barbara. Your method actually subtracts the shapes, which does work. But I'm trying to keep the masking rectangles intact (as shown in the the screen shot) so they can be adjusted if need be.

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