making a clipping mask with a complex, custom shape

[r_tist]

Hi,

I have a graphic of a footprint, and I am trying to use it to mask of a photograph below. When I do the usual steps, it is not working and causing everything to go transparent...my photo, completely vanishing. I'm wondering if it is something to do with the complexity of the footprint vector - it has floating elements that are distanced away (for example, the toes are not attached to the foot portion). Could this be what's throwing it off?

How can I get this footprint vector graphic to function as a cohesive mask?

Thank you!

[Jacob Bugge]

r,

Select all footprint parts and Object>Compound Path>Make, and then apply.

[r_tist]

Thanks for responding so quickly...I have just tried that, and here is the response I'm getting:

Can't make a compound path. All objects in a compound path must be paths, and they cannot be brushed or be part of an object.

Not sure what I need to do to modify / tweak the graphic in order to make it work properly?

Thanks!

[Jacob Bugge]

r,

Can't make a compound path. All objects in a compound path must be paths, and they cannot be brushed or be part of an object.

Which kind(s) of objects are they?

[r_tist]

Well, it is a simple vector of a footprint, and like I had mentioned, the toes are detached from the foot. However, I have used the Pathfinder to try 'uniting' and 'merging' so that it functions as one unit to mask off the photo below with ease. This is not working though...any ideas?

[Jacob Bugge · Accepted solution]

r,

Undo everything so you have simple separate (filled) paths forming the footprint, then Select all  parts and Object>Compound Path>Make, and then apply.

[r_tist]

Whoo hoo!! It worked! THANK YOU!!

[Ali5EE1]

helped me as well thank youu

[Jacob Bugge]

You are welcome, Ali.

[Jacob Bugge]

You are welcome, r.

Sometimes Undo is your friend.

And sometimes, the messages are somewhat strange. In some cases, it is possible to ponder over them and find a way through, in other cases they are just strange, or reflect some limitation that is.

[Sam_0f_Thunder]

This helped me too! I kept using Pathfinder > Unite thinking that was making it a compound shape. Weird. Thank you, all!

[JoBeeOne]

This helped me too!