Clipping Mask consisting of multiple objects

[chrisf70]

Hi, new user here so first I would like to say hello.

My query is this: I'm using Illustrator CS3 on PC and I'm new to layers. I want to create a logo that is filled with an image. I understand I should be using a clipping mask. In theory this is OK, if I just type the name for my logo over the top of the background image it creates a text sublayer over the image sublayer and then I click the Make/Release Clipping Mask button in the Layer pallet, bingo! I have the desired result; text filled with the image. However when exported as a jpg it is not preserving any transparency when imported into another document. (a seperate problem)

However my logo consists of some objects and the text, so if I create the text and then create the objects it only creates the clipping mask from the last object drawn and none of the others or the text. From what I can see this is because the mask is always created from the top sub layer, in this case the last object drawn.

If I group the text and objects together it creates a group sublayer but then when you create the clipping mask everything disappears and you are left with an outline of the text and objects shown by guides.

I've tried loads of things and looked across the net, but can't find a soloution to my problem, which in essence is how to make a clipping mask out of a group of objects and text and then export it with the transparent background preserved? Thanks. Chris.

[Lukas Engqvist]

when you have your logo shape including all letters n stuff you make a compound path of the lot, now it is "one shape" and can be used as a clipping mask.
(you could ofcourse also use opacity masks, but that is a bit more complex)

if you have a filled character eg. A,O,P etc it is already made up of a compound path, so you have to "release" compound paths till all your design is in path elements. Select them all and make compound paths of them.

Both concepts are really well explained in the online help, so i won't reinvent the wheel, but look at compound paths, and opacity mask, then decide– if you still don't understand we'll try explain again :)

[chrisf70]

Thanks that worked really well. Breaking apart all the compound paths and then making them all one compound path is what I was missing.

However I still can't export the final logo from Illustrator without the graphic which I have used as the background being visible as a white shape around the logo when I import the logo into say another Illustrator document with a coloured background. Basically the transparency aspect is disappearing when exporting.

When I first create the logo in the original doc, with the clipping mask, and then place another layer behind the logo and draw a block of solid colour behind the logo it is fully transparent and I get the desired effect, it only goes wrong after exporting as a jpeg to use elsewhere.

Thanks again.

[Lukas Engqvist]

GIF letts you map wite to transparent, but no crisp vector outlines
JPG does not handle transparency or vectors
PNG can have transparency but no vector clipping
EPS does not handle transparency but can mix pictures and vectors
TIF handles pixels/images but can have a vector clipping path. or alpha transparency

[The Repro Kid]

...However I still can't export the final logo from Illustrator without the graphic which I have used as the background being visible as a white shape around the logo when I import the logo into say another Illustrator document with a coloured background. Basically the transparency aspect is disappearing when exporting...Exporting is what is giving you the problem. You really don't need to export anything. With Illustrator, you only need to use export when going to some exotic format, or a few other special reasons. With most DTP applications you need only save your file, either as an Illustrator.ai or as an Illustrator.eps. In both cases, your clipping paths will be honored and you will have a "transparent background" once you've imported into say, InD or QXP.

Since you mentioned importing back into another Illustrator document, that too is unnecessary, you can simply copy and paste. No need to import, unless for some reason there is an advantage to having the image Linked. And in that case too, you would import the saved .ai format, not an exported file.

[Lukas Engqvist]

Exporting is what is giving you the problem. You really don't need to export anything. With Illustrator, you only need to use export when going to some exotic format, or a few other special reasons. With most DTP applications you need only save your file, either as an Illustrator.ai or as an Illustrator.eps. In both cases, your clipping paths will be honored and you will have a "transparent background" once you've imported into say, InD or QXP.

Since you mentioned importing back into another Illustrator document, that too is unnecessary, you can simply copy and paste. No need to import, unless for some reason there is an advantage to having the image Linked. And in that case too, you would import the saved .ai format, not an exported file.

For a simple vector logo yes. But logos are gettig more complex and many include transparency effects.
Just a quickie, some people have a clipping path and then apply a shadow, which is transparent… eps does not support transparency. So .eps is a second choice or you will find eg dropshadows fading to white and not fading to transparent. EPS works fine if your clipping is a crisp vector mask. In the future (and including the present) is better to move all files to .pdf rather then .eps.
A little warning… sorry to point out all warnings and potential problems. Transparency and spot colours will give apparent white blocks as the logos may use special overprint features. A semi-transparent spot logo in a spot colour will appear to have a white background unless overprint is honoured/simulated in the printer.

[The Repro Kid]

OMG. It's a clipping path. Save as .ai or .eps and you'll be fine. Regardless of what Lukas says.

[chrisf70]

Thanks for all your help on this. The logo is now being used successfully. Cheers

[The Repro Kid]

awesome
:)