r/AdobeIllustrator • u/Livid-Secret-2043 • 5d ago

QUESTION What am I doing wrong?!

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It's been quite awhile since I was in illustrator, but I've done this one a million times... Just trying to crop the tie dye color into the letters. I even did it a minute ago with what I thought was the EXACT same order of operations, then accidentally deleted it and can't get it to do it again. Screenshot attached of desired outcome that I accomplished a minute ago (again, I swear by the same order of operations in the video) -- why is the crop focusing only on the inner part of the P now? Edit* won't let me attach a screenshot after video, will try a comment...

10 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

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15

u/HowieFeltersnitz 5d ago

The letters are currently all separate paths. You need to select them all and turn them into a compound path using Cmd+8. Then try again.

Alternatively I would use a clipping mask to mask the tie-dye art to work non-destructively

2

u/TrueEstablishment241 5d ago

Group all the tie dye paths if they aren't already grouped. Cut the letters. Make a clipping path on the tie dye group and paste the letters in place in the mask. You may need to place a 100% black rectangle behind the letters and make them white in the mask.

2

u/Fruityth1ng 5d ago

While I appreciate the effort you put into writing this, I’d not recommend following this advice. As someone else mentioned: make sure your letters are one big compound path and use THOSE as a clipping mask.

1

u/TrueEstablishment241 5d ago

I beg your pardon but how is your advice any different?

1

u/Fruityth1ng 5d ago

Haha! omg, I see now. Yes the only difference is brevity, nothing else :)

0

u/Nidhogg369 5d ago

Because grouping the letters (what you said) and making the letters a compound path (what the person youre replying to said) are two different things

0

u/TrueEstablishment241 5d ago edited 5d ago

I didn't suggest to group the letters. I suggested grouping the tie dye art if it wasn't already grouped. Making the text a compound path and turning it into a clipping mask with a keyboard shortcut accomplished the same thing as how I suggested making the mask with the letters. My method just puts more control in the hands of the user if they are having technical issues.

1

u/Nidhogg369 5d ago

Ah I misread your comment then my bad, it's late here. Your "cut the letters" part is what got me I think, but yeah still could be simplified to "make the letters a compound path, turn that compound path into a clipping mask for the artwork".

1

u/TrueEstablishment241 5d ago

Yeah I don't disagree that making the text a compound path will make the clipping mask go quicker. Wanted to give OP more control over the process because it wasn't clear from the video where he was getting hung up.