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Participant
December 1, 2021
Answered

Transparency Masks and Patterns

  • December 1, 2021
  • 3 replies
  • 604 views

Can I  create a pattern of random small blobs that I can use as a transperency mask?

 

Example I have a shape filled with a solid color or pattern, then I copy in place a duplicate of the shape and fill it with my blob pattern. I would like the blobs to act as a transparency mask to "cut  holes" in the original underlying shape. 

 

Or can I use a second fill on the original object that utilizes the blob pattern as a transparency mask?

 

Suggestions?

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

Group the objects first before applying the mask.

3 replies

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Community Expert
December 1, 2021

You can also add a second fill to the object in the Appearance panel.

Give the top fill an opacity of 0%.

Select  Knockout group for the combined appearance.

c.pfaffenbichler
Community Expert
Community Expert
December 1, 2021

fgwebbjrAuthor
Participant
December 1, 2021

I would like to see each individual circle within the pattern act as the mask ...not the entire rectangle containing the pattern.

Doug A Roberts
Community Expert
Community Expert
December 1, 2021

In that case tick 'Invert Mask'.

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Community Expert
December 1, 2021

You could use a seperate object filled with your blobs above your other object.

Select both and choose Make Mask in the Transparency panel (play with the Clip and Invert Mask checkboxes for the correct effect).

fgwebbjrAuthor
Participant
December 1, 2021

Close. I can do that for each individual object. However when I tried to apply to all of the objects in the layer simultaneous I could not get it to work.

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Ton FrederiksCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
December 1, 2021

Group the objects first before applying the mask.