Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Hi there, I am looking to create a circle element like this that has a transparent border or some way to crop an exact circle shape out of the rectangle. Any suggestions?
1. Draw red rectangle
2. Draw red circle and give it a Paper-colored stroke
3. Group the red rectangle and the red circle together
4. Sub-select the red circle with the Paper-colored stroke
5. In the Effects panel, sub-select the Stroke only, and set the Opacity to zero
6. Select the Group of the two objects again
7. In the Effects panel, turn on Knock-Out Group checkbox
8. Reward yourself with food and drink
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Create a circle a little bigger than the red one.
Select both the new circle and the red rectangle.
Choose Object Pathfinder > Subtract to cut a hole with the top shape.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Thanks so much!
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
1. Draw red rectangle
2. Draw red circle and give it a Paper-colored stroke
3. Group the red rectangle and the red circle together
4. Sub-select the red circle with the Paper-colored stroke
5. In the Effects panel, sub-select the Stroke only, and set the Opacity to zero
6. Select the Group of the two objects again
7. In the Effects panel, turn on Knock-Out Group checkbox
8. Reward yourself with food and drink
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Seriously, folks, this tip is awesome, and stays easily editable.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Thank you!
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
8. Reward yourself with food and drink
Have I earned the reward by just reading the list, or do I have to keystroke it first?
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
BarbBinder​
Go to the reward
Go directly to the reward
Do not pass Go
Do not collect $200
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
For Jane and Barb, I would put step 8 first, of course! I was trying to get the same effect with a placed Illustrator logo, but I haven't got the right combination yet!
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Yes, if you make a stroke in an Illustrator file, color it white, set the Transparency to 0 opacity, place it on the InDesign page, group it with the rectangle, and turn on Knockout Group, the trick still works!
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
What makes this trick even more valuable, it allows fully transparent live text...
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Thanks Scott Citron!
And thanks winterm: I hope your example is actually showing live text from a placed Illustrator file. What a lot of graphic designers don't yet realize is you can have live text in knockout situations in Illustrator (since CS5), whereas many still practice converting text to outline when building things in Illustrator.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Michael,
2 things I love here most:
Illy is not involved by any means here.
Text is ID native and LIVE. No outlines!
There is:
1. placed bitmap as a background (to demonstrate transparency)
2. group of red rectangle and blue circle, following Your technique.
What I did additionally: converted the circle to Text frame, entered text, applied [Paper] to it, and in Effects panel set 0% Opacity to that text. Just like to the outline of the circle (which is Text Frame now).
There is even simpler version showing that same effect. No grouping, just one text frame:
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Yes, actually simpler to do the procedure only in InDesign; but I am always trying to throw in a tidbit to broaden awareness of similarities in Illustrator when I can, knowing that many shy away from the awkward inscrutablenesses found there.
Your see-thru pilcrow / hard return symbol is making me scratch my head in confusion, by the way!
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Michael Witherell wrote:
Your see-thru pilcrow / hard return symbol is making me scratch my head in confusion, by the way!
Ha ha
It's really hard evidence, right?
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
GREAT tip, Mike! Excellent job.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Yes, great tip, Mike! Excellent job!