About using vector masks on vector layers...

[Under S.]

Hi,

Not very experienced with vector shapes, but I'll try to ask this as succinctly as I can.

• I have a layer with a green vector rectangle on it that I drew with the rectangle tool set to "SHAPE".
• I have another Type layer above it with the word "Hi" in it.

How do I poke a "Hi"-shaped hole into the rectangle surface (so the end result is a green rectangle with a transparent "Hi" in the middle)? Keeping in mind both the rectangle and the "Hi" are vector, and should retain that quality in the end.

At first, I thought a vector mask was the solution. But then wondered if I couldn't just make a path from the Type layer and paste that directly into the rectangle path as a "negative" to accomplish the same thing.

Can one of you Photoshop Jedis walk me through the steps to have a transparent "Hi" inside a green rectangle, while retaining all the vector info?

Thanks!

PS: Before anyone flames me over the topic I selected to pair with this post, here were my options. Site wasn't letting me post without choosing one. (And as usual, they're all irrelevant.)

[Semaphoric]

After you paste the path from the text into the shape, select the Shape tool and the Shape layer. In the option bar, in the Channel Operations, choose Subtract Front Shape.

[Under S.]

I appreciate this. But can you back up one step? 🙂 So I right-click the Type layer, select "create work path", copy those highlighted "Hi" nodes (ctrl-c), select the rectangle layer in the layers palette, and then paste the copied nodes (ctrl-v)... right? At least, that's as far as I got. With those nodes still selected (but not the rectangle part) I go to "Subtract Front Shape" but nothing happens. Where did I screw up? Is there a special way to copy/paste for vector?

[Semaphoric]

I think the trick is to do it with the Paths panel. Make sure the Shape path is the only one selected, and then paste.