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March 14, 2017
Question

Need help with clipping mask

  • March 14, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 644 views

I tried to use clipping mask for my drawing but something is not working right on adobe illustrator (it worked on photoshop...)

K what I wanted to do is to cut Darker lines(paths) which are going over the lighter ones by using clipping mask.

What I wanted to get was something like this (I deleted paths to show you what I wanted to get what I was expecting... I can't obtain this using clipping mask)

but what I get using Ctrl + 7 or clipping mask (selecting two layers) is this lol ...

It's weird on PS it worked fine but on AI I can't make this work.

What ever I do using pathfinder or switching layers position (darker layer going up , darker layer going down or what ever)

I just can't get what I want

Can some one help me plz

I must decide fast if I have to switch back to PS or learn AI and use it. If this doesn't work I'll have to say Goodbye to AI

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    2 replies

    cinziamarotta
    Participating Frequently
    March 14, 2017

    Hi,

    If I correctly understood what you need, you can get that result with these few steps:

    1. make a compound path with all light elements (if you used a brush, you need to expand the appearance)

    2. copy the light layer and paste it above

    3. select that upper level and the dark one and make the clipping mask

    March 14, 2017

    thank you for fast reply yeah I made them with brush and I followed your instruction but didn't work

    1.made all paths in light layer to compound path and expanded the appearance.

    2.copy the light layer and paste it above ? I don't get exactly what are you trying to say

    should I move the light layer above the dark layer or should I copy the element inside light layer to dark layer or should I copy the light layer itself and paste it and move it to the upper level (as result I will get 3layers)

    Well I tried all those 3 but didn't work.

    3.I did but didn't work

    cinziamarotta
    Participating Frequently
    March 14, 2017

    1. Expand light elements (for clipping mask)

    2. Light elements > make compound path and copy them

    3. Select light elements and dark elements and make clipping mask

    4. Past light elements (in back)

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    March 14, 2017

    You want an opacity mask, not a clipping mask.

    Make all those dark paths black. Not transparent.

    Then group them. Select all and in the transparency panel create mask.

    Please see about options and details in the documentation.

    March 14, 2017

    I dont know why I have to change the color of paths of dark layer to black but ok I did what you told me

    changed the color , grouped , made mask on transparency window but didn't work

    Ton Frederiks
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    March 14, 2017

    If you followed Monika's steps, it should work.

    You probably skipped the last step:

    "Please see about options and details in the documentation."