Trying to cut object from imported artwork

[JakeVO]

Ok, so I have an artwork that I downloaded (with permission from the artist) to use as an overlay for a video series that I am doing. I'd like to cut a transparent section from the middle of this artwork where I will place the video feed, but no matter what method I use, no matter what I try, it just absolutely refuses.

I've tried JPG, PNG, PDF, and it just refuses. I'm now convinced that there is some ridiculously easy method to this that I just can't find.

I'm simply just trying to remove a rectangle from the middle of artwork, why is this so difficult? Please help me.

If I'm not giving enough information please let me know what else I need to provide.

[Theresa J]

This sounds like a better job for Photoshop. How are you trying to do this with Illustrator? Is the art an image, or is it vector art?

[JakeVO]

Unfortunately I believe it is just an image, not vector, which I realize causes a significant problem.

[gökhanyaka]

are you able to select object to use illustrator tools ? for example by using Direct Selection tool ?

if yes you have got a vector art and next step is to convert some objects to transparent.

first step move your art to outside of white page (gray area) and then select objects more than one and apply Make Compound Path  (Cmd+8 shortcut) after that check that you should see gray area between these objects. now you have some transparent area. then move your art back to page and export it as PNG format. does it work ?

[JakeVO]

I've even converted it into vector format using the image trace function. Still doesn't really accomplish what I'm trying to do.

How about someone answer me this, just for explanation's sake. Why is it that you can crop an image incredibly precisely, cutting huge swaths of an image off the edges making them transparent, but you can't cut parts out of the middle? I'm sure, again, there is a simple explanation, but for some reason I can't seem to make sense of it.

[Doug A Roberts]

you could, if you made a compound path. this would be clipping, not cropping, though.

[Doug A Roberts]

but really if this is an image, you should be using photoshop.

[JakeVO]

Probably not wrong. My problem is that I actually have a decent amount of experience with illustrator and practically none in photoshop. Guess it's time for that to change.

[Ray Yorkshire]

Draw a white filled  rectangle on the top, and in the

Window > Transparency Panel

Select all -rectangle and underlying oblect

Make Mask

With Clip and Invert Mask selected as appropriate ?

[tonyharmer]

Hey there—just to expand on Ray's suggestion above:

1. Open the Layers Panel and click the small circles on the right (this target's the layer's appearance)
2. Open the Transparency Panel and click the button that says Make Mask—your artwork will vanish, initially
3. Click on the mask thumbnail (pictured, bottom right), if selected, uncheck Clip and check Invert Mask
4. Draw a rectangle with a white fill and your artwork will reappear with a gap in it; adjust the rectangle to suit your requirements

Hope that helps!

[JakeVO]

Ok, so I've done a work around, and now included screenshots. Here's what I'm starting with:

Here's where I want to end up:

I ended up just creating the right size for the image and cropping it the way that I wanted, then copying and pasting image 4 times and cropping them individually to create the transparent rectangle in the middle.

There has to be an easier way to do this that I don't know about. Especially since this is far less precise than putting a rectangle over the front and "subtracting" the front image.

[Doug A Roberts]

JakeVO  wrote

There has to be an easier way to do this that I don't know about. Especially since this is far less precise than putting a rectangle over the front and "subtracting" the front image.

use a compound path. Draw a rectangle for your transparent area, a rectangle outside of the artboard. select both and make a compound path (ctrl + 8). select the compound path and photo and use it as a clipping path for the photo (ctrl + 7).

[07murat07]

You don't have to use photoshop for this.

My prgram interface is not English (I use in English but if i change the lang, all accounted cc lang changes and my office friends don't want it)

You can see easily what i've done here:

1- Draw a shape with 2 rectangles one inside other.    2- I 've used "pathfinder" to get a single shape that i want.

3- Align it over my bitmap image  4- Use mask as you can see.

After, you can "rasterize" the image under the "Object" tab. And you can export it in PNG, TIFF, or PDF etc. with transparent zone inside it.

Note that you have to export it in RGB color mode if you want to use it in a video editor.