trying to divide a clipping mask object

[Christopher5EDF]

Hi! 

I made a clipping mask out of a scan of a cheeseknife. I am trying to divide the knife into two parts so that I can place it into a hand. I can't figure out how to divide the clipping mask object (knife) into two pieces. Can anyone help? 

Thank you! 

[Jacob Bugge · Accepted solution]

Christopher,

As I (mis)understand it, you can use one copy of the (linked) image and one Clipping Path to make a separate Clipping Mask for each part; two or (many) more that can be moved about separately/independently and placed in front of/behind other objects. But have the images in exactly the same position to start with (Ctrl/Cmd+F); and create the Clipping Paths right on top of (their respective part of) the original path.

Or said in another way: you can divide the path that clips before it clips so that they clip (one image each).

It is fine to use linked images, and keeps the file size down.

[SJRiegel · Accepted solution]

For this, I think that a transparency mask would work the best. That way, you use just one image, and you don't have to worry with aligning two separate pieces. (Use the transparency pallet. do a separate shape that matches the shape of the hand.

[Christopher5EDF]

Thanks! I did this and it was very helpful!