[UKTshirtBrand]

Right - I'm quite Photoshop efficient but really strugling with this illustrator question.

The Design - A Piece of Text with a pattern CUT OUT/Not Printed for example - the image below - the design on illustrator would be the white print..

In Illustrator i've got my font and i've got a paisley design that i want to sort of overlay on the text and delete but i cant work it out at all!


>>I'm trying to end up with one layer/object - The text with the paisley design cut out of it<<

 

[2020 PrintWorks]

Take your text and make it black. Make the paisley design red or really any other color. Place the paisley design over the text where you want it. If it's behind the text, click on the paisley pattern then right click > arrange > bring to front. Then select the whole thing. Click object > flatten transparency. A box will pop up. Drag the bar over that says "raster/vector balance" to 100, and make sure the box is checked that says "convert all text to outline". Now click effect > pathfinder > merge. Now right click and click ungroup. Then just use the magic wand tool to select the paisley pattern and hit delete. You should be good to go now.

 

[miktoxic]

or put the paisley pattern in front of the text select both and select 'minus front' in the pathfinder tools.

the pathfinder is one of the most important palettes in illy when combining subtracting one object from another and a grat way to build shapes.

you could also use a clipping mask which you should be used to if using photoshop.

 

[UKTshirtBrand]

Wow thankyou!! Literally incredible!

One other questions - what if i wanted to do the sort of 'Opposite' of that. For example. Instead of cutting the paisley out of the text how do I delete everything except for the paisley in the shape of the text. So being left the paisley lines/paths in the shape of the text.. but without the text being there..

Sorry for another question - You guys are hero's - let me know if there's a repping system on here

or put the paisley pattern in front of the text select both and select 'minus front' in the pathfinder tools.

the pathfinder is one of the most important palettes in illy when combining subtracting one object from another and a grat way to build shapes.

you could also use a clipping mask which you should be used to if using photoshop.

Take your text and make it black. Make the paisley design red or really any other color. Place the paisley design over the text where you want it. If it's behind the text, click on the paisley pattern then right click > arrange > bring to front. Then select the whole thing. Click object > flatten transparency. A box will pop up. Drag the bar over that says "raster/vector balance" to 100, and make sure the box is checked that says "convert all text to outline". Now click effect > pathfinder > merge. Now right click and click ungroup. Then just use the magic wand tool to select the paisley pattern and hit delete. You should be good to go now.

 

[miktoxic]

most of the time in the pathfinder it depends on what object is in front of the other then select them both and select what option you are looking for.

just fool around with some simple objects and try all the functions out. sometimes you'll have to expand the objects, sometimes you'll have to use the direct selection tool (white arrow) to delete some things but experimenting with it will help you understand the benefits of the best tool in illy.

 

[royster13]

lots of videos on YouTube......Much easier to learn if you see stuff live and in living colour.....

 

[2020 PrintWorks]

Wow thankyou!! Literally incredible!

One other questions - what if i wanted to do the sort of 'Opposite' of that. For example. Instead of cutting the paisley out of the text how do I delete everything except for the paisley in the shape of the text. So being left the paisley lines/paths in the shape of the text.. but without the text being there..

Sorry for another question - You guys are hero's - let me know if there's a repping system on here

You would need to make a copy of your original text before cutting the paisley out of it. Make sure the plain text is black and the paisley is white and that the paisley is in front. Click window then align. That will bring up the align tool bar. Now center both objects vertically and horizontally. That should make them overlap perfectly. Now just flatten transparency and merge. Then go edit > edit colors > invert colors. If you want to keep the outline of the text just make a third copy of the plain text with no fill and add a stroke to it.